Munya: We have no plans to eliminate DP Ruto

Trade Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya has denied claims that he and other three cabinet secretaries from the Mt Kenya region have been planning to harm or kill the Deputy President William Ruto.

While addressing the press at the Headquarters of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Kiambu, today, Munya said that indeed they held meetings at the La Mada Hotel but the discussions were majorly on development.

CS Munya and Cabinet Secretary for ICT Joe Mucheru, Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki and Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia were summoned to the DCI headquarters today to record a statement over the allegations.

Munya, however, told the media that they had not recorded any statements because the complainant (the DP) was yet to record a one.

He said that they had discussions with Mr Michael Sang, a DCI officer and they ascertained that the claims were not recorded.

“The complainant makes a substantive complaint in writing against which we can be able to respond. But we have made it clear that at no time have we met anywhere, not just in La Mada, to kill the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya,” he said.

Munya, a former Meru Governor,  said the meetings had the blessings of President Uhuru Kenyatta and were initiated upon request of Members of Parliament from Central Kenya, who complained that they were not easily accessing cabinet secretaries and senior government officers on the quest for development.

According to Munya, President Uhuru gave him the responsibility to coordinate and chair the meetings so that they could hear and address the grievances of the MPs.

“We want to confirm we have been having meetings. Indeed, we had a meeting in La Mada and we will continue having meetings because under the Constitution of Kenya, there is freedom of assembly and expression,” Munya added.

Munya said the CSs had learned at the DCI that the DP had made a phone call there to report the  CSSs and other senior civil servants had met at La Mada hotel on May 14 to hatch plans to kill him.

Munya , however, explained that they were unable to record statements because theDCI was unable to reduce to the DP's verbal complaints into a written document, which is the standard operational procedure.

"The Deputy President has not recorded any statement,"  he said.

He revealed that a meeting was on the cards tomorrow but failed to disclose the venue.

He said that the people from Mt Kenya region were entitled to development like other Kenyans and there was nothing sinister in their meetings.

An angry Munya seemed to be accusing DP of failing to raise such allegations during formal meetings. He said the reputations of the Cabinet secretaries were at stake owing to the gravity of the allegations.

Asked whether National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich was also summoned, Munya said he was not aware of that, but indications were all clear that CS Rotich may have not been a person of interest because he does not hail from Mt Kenya region.

The CS, however, said that they are willing to work with DP Ruto and that there are no hard feelings against him. He said that they were willing to go back to the DCI offices to record statements if needed.

Warning

This comes just a day after Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot warned cabinet secretaries and permanent secretaries against scuttling DP Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid.

Speaking in Belgut Constituency on Saturday, he said: “The evil schemers must understand that it is voters who will determine who becomes Kenyans fifth president and not them. The power is with the people. It is not in the hotels and with the people who are planning evil against Dr Ruto,” the senator said.

Belgut MP Nelson Koech said: “Some Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries are trying to play dirty tricks which involve undermining and blocking Dr Ruto from touring some parts of the country. We are telling any CSs or PSs who going forward will dare to undermine him, that we will censure them in parliament (sic),” said Koech.