President William Ruto has appointed former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich as an advisor on economic matters.
Rotich, who was unceremoniously laid off as Treasury CS by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, will now serve as a senior advisor on Fiscal Affairs and Budget Policy at Ruto's office.
In his new role, Rotich will offer advice on the management of the economy and public finances.
The position was previously held by the current Central Bank Governor Kamau Thugge. Thugge had been appointed to the position by former Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua.
In mid-December last year, Rotich was acquitted in the Ksh63 billion Arror and Kimwarer dam scandal. Trial Magistrate Eunice Nyutu concluded that the evidence provided was insufficient, prompting her to drop all charges.
"All the accused persons in this case are hereby acquitted under Section 210 due to lack of evidence as a result of the reckless dereliction of duty by the prosecution," she ruled at the time.
The former CS had been arrested in July 2019 alongside eight other suspects in the case.
Noordin Haji, who was the Director of Public Prosecutions at the time, accused the suspects of flouting procurement laws and awarding the construction of the two dams to an Italian firm.
"It was established that the conception, procurement, and payment process for the dam projects were riddled with massive illegalities," Haji stated at the time.
Among other charges leveled against the former Treasury boss was a conspiracy to defraud contrary to section 317 of the Penal Code, Cap 63 Laws of Kenya.
He was also alleged to have willingly failed to comply with applicable procedures and guidelines relating to procurement contrary to section 45 (2) (b) as read with section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act No. 3 of 2003.
Rotich was relieved of his CS duties in January 2020 shortly after the claims were lodged.
