Deputy president William Ruto addressing the press on marking the end of FGM beads Initiative at his official home, Karen. With him are UNFPA Representative Dr. Ademola Olajide(back), Ushanga, Kenya chairperson Hellen Nkaisseri (R) and chairperson Anti-FGM Board. [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is not keen to investigate Deputy President William Ruto’s assassination claims.
Instead, the DCI has decided to invite the US’s Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) to handle the probe.
Top on FBI’s list is finding out where the letter revealing a meeting where a plot to stop Ruto from vying in the 2022 elections was discussed, originated from.
Yesterday, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji cited past cases where Ruto and his henchmen accused his office and that of the DCI of bias, as reason to keep off the probe.
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“We have been accused before of bias,” Mr Haji said.
“We decided to bring an independent body to carry out the investigations and report who authored the suspicious letter and the origin of the allegations.”
Haji said the FBI had all the expertise to handle the investigation.
He also told the National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee that the FBI, with its technological muscle, would crack the probe.
“We will get an independent report from the FBI so that we are not accused of dishonesty,” said Haji.
Ruto had insisted on being questioned by Mr Kinoti only, saying Kinoti was competent enough to undertake the probe. But Kinoti has declined.
An officer who cannot be named due to the sensitivity of the matter cited the Sh65 billion Kimwarer and Arror dams in which the DP criticised police investigations, saying they were biased, as one of the reasons the DCI was staying away.
Local police have concluded that the controversial letter was forged. Questions are now arising on the alleged forger’s motive.
The theories include a motive to divert attention from a serious national issue, so as to seek sympathy and spur a reshuffle in the Cabinet.
“It was well calculated, but we will get to the bottom soon,” said an official aware of the case.
Yesterday, Ruto maintained a studious silence, dodging journalists who had camped at his office hoping for a comment on the assassination claim.
The DP, who had witnessed the signing of an anti-FGM campaign initiative at his Karen residence, ignored questions from journalists, only talking about the FGM meeting.
Ruto has kept off the issue since three Cabinet secretaries refused to record a statement insisting that he must first file his complaint.
