Safina Party presidential aspirant Jimi Wanjigi has stated that, if elected to office, he will not pay for the loan China extended to Kenya for the construction of the Standard Guage Railway (SGR).
In an exclusive interview with Kenyans.co.ke on Monday, April 25, the businessman cum politician explained that the courts had determined that the SGR contract was awarded illegally hence his stance over the payment of the loans.
He cited the ruling made by the current Chief Justice Martha Koome and Justices Gatembu Kairu, and Jamila Mohammed in 2020 when they determined that the government did not follow the law while giving the contract to China Bridges and Railway Corporation (CBRC).
"I also know that the Court of Appeal in Kenya stated that the SGR contract is illegal. If something is illegal why pay for it? The rule of law must be followed to the latter.
"You must respect the rule of law as a government. You cannot be an enforcer yet you yourself cannot follow it," he stated.
Wanjigi further faulted President Uhuru Kenyatta for failing to make the document public stating that Kenyans were paying for loans they did not know about.
"Not too long ago, Uhuru promised in the media that he would produce the contract of the famous SGR. We have not seen it until today," Wanjigi stated.
In the 2020 ruling, the government was faulted for contravening procurement laws when awarding the tender.
“We substitute therefore an order declaring that Kenya Railways Corporation, as the procuring entity, failed to comply with, and violated provisions of Article 227 (1) of the Constitution and Sections 6 (1) and 29 of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act,” the judges stated.
Additionally, he maintained that he was at the center of the pre-election pact between President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto prior to the 2013 polls.
He stated that the Jubilee administration was split into two pillars based on security and finance dockets. According to Wanjigi Uhuru took the security-related ministries while Ruto took charge of the dockets related to finances.
Further, he stated that he could not reveal further contents of the deal until Uhuru and Ruto gave him permission.
"I am a custodian of an agreement between Uhuru and Ruto. I am also a custodian of the intentions of that agreement and its principles. Why I have not revealed the document until today is that there was a clear understanding that it is a document to be revealed by the concurrence of both of them," he stated.
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