The controversy surrounding the deportation of Turkish businessman, Harun Aydin, has taken a new twist after Deputy President William Ruto denied helping him secure a loan.
Through his spokesperson, David Mugonyi, the second in command on Wednesday, August 25, said that he at no point helped the Turk secure a facility from any bank.
Reports had indicated that Ruto had allegedly helped the Turk secure a Ksh15 billion loan to set up a pharmaceutical company in the neighbouring Uganda.
The Deputy President said that the investor he helped acquire a loan two years ago, was from East Africa, and not the deported Turkish national.
"The Deputy President did not help Aydin get money from the bank. He helped some Eastern African investors and this was two years ago," noted Ruto's spokesperson.
Mugonyi accused Members of Parliament of twisting Ruto's words during the National Assembly Finance and National Planning Committee inquiry into the financing claims.
During a televised interview days after being blocked from leaving the country for Kampala, Uganda, the DP revealed that he had made a call to a local bank and within days, an investor had been granted a Ksh15 billion loan.
He claimed to have helped the investor start a vaccine-manufacturing plant in Uganda.
Ruto had flown out on Tuesday, July 6, to meet Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni where the two jointly launched the plant.
"The Ugandan President had invited me to fly to his country during the launch of the vaccine manufacturing facility to fight the deadly virus. The investor of the manufacturing facility had come to me for help in acquiring a loan of Ksh15 billion, and I offered to help," stated Ruto.
The Deputy President has been under fire for his relationship with the Turkish investor, and for allegedly not coming to the aid of Kenyan investors seeking capital to start or expand businesses locally.
Suna East MP, Junet Mohamed, accused Ruto of associating with Yoweri Museveni, who he claimed has glaring shortcomings, and condemned Museveni's National Resistance Movement which he said was not an example for Ruto to borrow from.
"From where Ruto is getting political advice, it can be revealed that he would not relinquish power, he is not fit for power. We want Ruto to come clear on his relationship with NRM of Uganda," the Suna East MP had remarked.
