Italian firms adversely mentioned in the Aror and Kimwarer dam scandals have told the International Court of Arbitration, the cancellation of the tenders to put up two mega-dam projects in Elgeyo Marakwet county, was purely motivated by 2022 politics and the current political animosity between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto.
The firms, Cooperativa Muratori & Cementisti – CMC Di Ravenna Societa Cooperativa, Itinera S.P.A and CMC Di Ravanna- Itinera JV S.C.P.A say in court documents the Kenyan government’s decision to cancel the initiative was targetting derailing William Ruto’s 2022 quest for the presidency. The Italian contractors describe the DP as a ‘vocal supporter’ of the Aror and Kimwarer projects.
”Claimants find confirmation that they fell victim of a political struggle for power between the president, Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, and his Deputy President, Mr. William Ruto, the latter being a vocal supporter of the projects…While the two belong to the same party, Mr. Ruto is expected to run in the 2022 presidential elections and challenge Mr. Kenyatta’s faction,” the court papers read in part.
As evidence, the firms mention the ongoing prosecution of former Treasury CS Henry Rotich who has been charged afresh before the EACC for trying to defraud the national government.
In a dramatic turn of events last, the DPP’s office dropped all criminal charges against PS Kamau Thugge, who was accused alongside Henry Rotich and plans to use him, together with the former PS in the Environment Ministry, Susan Koech, as state witnesses in the trial against former Treasury CS.
”It seems hardly coincidental that the highest-ranking official to be investigated and charged in the criminal proceedings is Kenya’s Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Henry Rotich, an ally of Mr. Ruto,” the court documents read.
