Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has claimed that President William Ruto and his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, pilfered a total of Ksh7 trillion from the public coffers, contrary to the provisions of the law.
Omtatah further claimed that Ruto no longer appreciates the role of Parliament in authorising key economic issues such as borrowing but rather enters into the deals without input from the constitutionally mandated body.
Speaking on K24 on Thursday morning, the outspoken Senator and human rights defender claimed that the president is currently running the country from his own pockets without the necessary parliamentary budgetary approvals in place.
According to Omtatah, the country needs to be alarmed by the pilferage and subversion of the law demonstrated by Ruto and his predecessor, President Uhuru Kenyatta.
''Former President Uhuru Kenyatta was part of the theft—they (Uhuru and Ruto) stole a lot of money, which I've quantified at around Ksh7 trillion. He needs to come and tell us where that money went. President William Ruto is completely unhinged. He’s making decisions that defy logic and is running the country from his pocket. The budget doesn't matter anymore,'' Omtatah claimed.
Commenting on the president's recent comments in which he swore to transform the country at whatever cost, the senator questioned how the Head of State intends to do that. According to Omtatah, the statement, together with one where Ruto stated that he would not hand over power to 'people without an agenda,' was a recipe for chaos.
''I think he needs to be stopped because this is an attempt to pull the country down with him. The President wants to destroy this country, and he must be stopped. He is borrowing money in a manner that if you go to the law, there is nowhere where the law allows what he is doing, yet he is here bypassing Parliament,'' he added.
Under the Constitution (Article 211) and the PFM Act (Section 50), Parliament has exclusive authority to approve any public borrowing. The Treasury is further required to provide full disclosure on the terms and intended use of such funds. Any borrowing that occurs outside this legal framework is unconstitutional and unlawful.
In related developments, the High Court on April 26 directed Omtatah to serve Uhuru and senior government officials with a petition seeking their accountability over the country's debt.
The directive followed a suit filed by the lawmaker and 8 others, which sought legal accountability from the former Head of State and top officials, including Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, over the massive debts accumulated.
In the suit, the lawmaker also wants Attorney General Dorcas Oduor, Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o, Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, and Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo to be held responsible for the country's bulging debt.
Others also attached as respondents in the petition included former Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo, former Auditor General Edward Ouko, former Attorney General Githu Muigai, former Treasury CS and PS Henry Rotich, and Kamau Thugge.
