Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, on Thursday, July 6, explained why former government officials alleged to have been engaged in a looting spree days before the 2022 General elections were yet to be arrested and arraigned.
Speaking during a roundtable meeting with radio journalists in Kericho, the DP indicated that President William Ruto's administration resolved to focus on other priority issues rather than tracking down the accused.
According to Gachagua, the current regime channelled its energy towards formulating the government and addressing the high cost of living.
"You even saw that Ksh6 billion was taken and looted through the Telkom deal. When we got into office, we resolved not to go after people because we did not have the time," the DP, who has constantly accused the previous administration of embezzlement of funds, alleged.
When queried whether Ruto was aware of the country's financial crisis before taking over from former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Gachagua candidly expressed that the situation was more dire than they had initially anticipated.
He sensationally claimed that the government could not actualise some of its plans to lower the cost of living as the Treasury grappled with financial constraints.
"We knew that the things in government were not right but not to the level we found them. Sometimes you may expect to get even 10 bags of food in the store, but that was not the case.
"The money was used in campaigning for our opponents and other things that have no value to the country," he further alleged.
Gachagua also asked Kenyans to be patient with the Head of State as they actualise their manifesto and election pledges.
However, he asserted that Ruto had made a number of strides in lowering the cost of living through the reduction of prices of basic commodities.
"We have worked for 10 months using the budget of the past government This new budget is ours and we should be judged by our plan and not of others," the DP pleaded.
Gachagua, after assuming office, lamented that officials of the former regime looted nearly Ksh16 billion, which was transported to their homes in helicopters.
Despite the government's reluctance to arrest the suspects, various parliamentary committees commenced investigations into questionable dealings, such as the Ksh6 billion Telkom buyout.
