Ruto says man in Sh791m NYS scam is not his brother

From left is former Devolution CS Anne Waiguru, Adan Gedow Harakhe and former NYS Director Nelson Githinji when they appeared before the National Committee on Labor, Social Welfare and Finance at Parliament Building 07/07/15 [PHOTO:MOSES OMUSULA/Standard]

Deputy President William Ruto has denied claims that a man linked to the Sh791 scam is his brother.

Through his Communications Secretary David Mugonyi, the deputy president said he had no brother by the name Luke Kimutai Samoei and faulted the media for failing to confirm that.

Mr Samoei who was mentioned in the affidavit filed by former Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru also told The Standard that he was not Ruto's brother but he knows the DP.

He also told Ms Waiguru to carry her own cross and stop using other people to justify her misdeeds.

Speaking on phone, Samoei admitted having sought contracts at the National Youth Service (NYS), which he did not get.

"I was looking for business like any other Kenyan. There is no crime I committed. I have been to NYS headquarters where I met many people," he said.

Samoei said since his name came into the limelight, he has been receiving many disturbing calls.

"This thing is really disturbing me. Why did she put such unnecessary details?" asked Samoei.

Samoei said he wanted to sell pressure pumps to NYS and they promised him that they would look into it "but the thing did not materialise because that is the time the issues of NYS erupted."

He added he met Adan Harakhe, the former NYS senior deputy director general and another procurement officer.

Waiguru has sworn an affidavit in which documents attached show Samoei is Ruto's brother.

Samoei said he knows Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen as indicated in the letter attached as an appendix to Waiguru's affidavit.

"I have only met Mr Murkomen twice in my lifetime. One of the times was when the deputy president was going to The Hague and the second time was at the KICC when I was going to a certain office," he said on the phone.

In her affidavit that was in reply to the one filed by the prime suspect in the Sh791 million NYS scandal, Josephine Kabura, Waiguru named several other personalities, including the Leader of Majority in the National Assembly, Aden Duale, as having played roles in the NYS scandal.

Duale and Murkomen have both denied the allegations, and instead urged Waiguru to focus on clearing her name instead of politicising the matter.