President William Ruto has cautioned his Cabinet to be vigilant against shrewd businessmen who were out to use his name to secure government deals.
While addressing the CSs and other government officials during the ongoing Kenya Kwanza retreat on Wednesday, Ruto noted that some of the individuals would often pose as his relatives to ensure they get the deals.
The Head of State maintained that he was not interested in the deals, advising them to disregard such approaches.
Consequently, he encouraged them to take advantage of his open-door policy and seek advice in such instances, even if it meant calling him.
"Each one of you has my telephone number and it is only one. In the event that you are in a place where you have been threatened by anybody or someone comes to you saying that they are my relatives and they want something, then do not believe them.
"If I want anything from any of you I will call you myself. I can confirm that it will not be about any transaction but your performance," he stated.
On the other hand, he also revealed that he had occasionally stepped in to protect his CSs from such business individuals in the past.
"On occasion, I have called CSs and PSs to warn them whenever I have intelligence that wrong things are about to happen in their departments. We cannot allow integrity issues to detail the plan that we have," he divulged.
Further, he maintained that government officials would be personally held responsible if they fell into the trap of the individuals.
"Do not get enticed into a situation because that is one area where people get to make the wrong decision.," the President reiterated.
With regard to the performance of the government officials, Ruto noted that there were very high expectations for them, adding that they had a responsibility to deliver to Kenyans.
The President also advised his Cabinet to assist each other in their work to ensure that no one in government was underperforming.