Deputy President William Ruto has spoken after allegations emerged that he launched an incomplete irrigation project in Trans Nzoia County.
Responding to his critics, Ruto who is said to have prematurely launched the Lower Nzoia irrigation project worth Sh5.3 billion on June 7 this year claimed that the allegations are just politically motivated.
"The launched lower nzoia flood mitigation & irrigation project is now 15% in progress & is meant to eliminate destructive perennial flooding and increase acreage under irrigation. I have followed this project since 2008 as minister for agriculture. Wacheni njama na siasa mbichi," Ruto said in a tweet on Wednesday.
The allegations emerged on Tuesday when the National Irrigation Board (NIB) and the National Land Commission (NLC) appeared before the National Assembly's Public Accounts Committee.
During the meeting, Water and Irrigation Principal Secretary Joseph Irungu told the committee that the DP launched the project without involving his ministry.
Irungu said that the ministry was yet to compensate landowners who had vacated their land to allow the project to be initiated hence the project was not ready for commissioning .
“There was no contact between the DP’s office and my office. Even my project engineer was not there. Compensation is a very sensitive matter, which we must handle well,” said Irungu.