Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen has defended the sidelined Treasury Cabinet Secretary(CS) Henry Rotich after he was replaced with Labour CS Ukur Yattani on acting capacity.
Speaking in Keiyo South, Elgeyo Marakwet, on Saturday, the Senator said Rotich was innocent adding that he suffered over an offence he never committed.
“I am insisting that there is no mistake that Henry Rotich committed. He never stole anybody’s money.
Henry was crucified on the cross over nothing for a mistake he never committed. Henry Rotich is as white as cotton,” said the Senator.
Murkomen further criticized the cancellation of Kimwarer dam saying that President Uhuru Kenyatta was misled by ‘conmen’ and demanded the Head of State to allow the projects to continue as earlier planned.
The Senate Majority leader also criticized the government for implementing mega projects worth billions of shillings in other regions yet his county’s projects worth lesser amounts were being incriminated.
In July, President Uhuru appointed Yatani as Treasury CS in acting capacity replacing Rotich who is facing corruption charges over the Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal.
Before his release on Ksh15 million cash bail, after pleading not guilty to charges, Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti ordered Rotich not go near his offices unless accompanied by an investigating officer.
Rotich is accused of using his office to “improperly confer a benefit to CMC Di Ravenna- Itiniera joint venture by unlawfully executing a facility agreement for the funding of the development of Arror multi-purpose dam.”
The corruption allegations pitting the Rotich and others lead to the cancellation of Kamwrer dam project and a review of Arror dam costs downwards.