Bomet Governor threatens to sue Duale over public accusations

Photo: Governor Rutto is restrained from confronting Duale.

Parliament Majority Leader Aden Duale may have to brace for a legal battle over baseless accusations and barbaric insults at a public function.

This is after Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto on Tuesday said he would sue the National Assembly Majority Leader, Aden Duale over wild allegations of misappropriating funds meant for county development.

Governor Ruto also charged Duale with peddling deceptive falsehoods about him.

“It is absurd for the likes of Mr Duale to peddle falsehood against me over corruption that does not exist and further (invoke) the names of my parents in the framed-up financial scandals,” Mr Rutto said.

“I will stop at nothing but to take Duale to court so that he can tell Kenyans where and when I misappropriated the monies he is talking about,” he said.

Mr Ruto also asked Jubilee top leadership not to panic over the popular push to strengthen county governments to the extent of inventing cheap propaganda and making unsubstantiated accusations.

“The truth of the matter is that the national government owes two of the defunct local authorities in his county, Bomet municipal and Bomet council, Sh176 million, being charges in lieu of rates, and I wonder why the government is running away from settling the debt and purporting that I have squandered the money that in the first place is not there,” he said.

The governor was addressing a public meeting at Kapkimolwo Trading Centre in Bomet County. He was accompanied by his deputy, Stephen Mutai.

Mr Ruto said besides pushing for the allocation of more funds to counties, governors were also pressurising the national government to devolve the management of forests, land, roads and development of infrastructures in both public primary and secondary schools.

On Monday during celebrations of the Mara Day, Mr Duale claimed that Governor Rutto had failed to account for a sum of funds that was set aside for county development.

He then remarked insultingly in Kiswahili, "Hii pesa si ya mama yako." (This money does not belong to your mother).

Mr Duale’s insult infuriated Mr Rutto who promptly rose from his seat as if to walk towards the podium. He was however restrained by Narok County Governor Samuel Tunai, Senator Stephen ole Ntutu, County Commissioner Farah Kassim Farah, MCA Kuya ole Kijabe and the deputy president’s security detail.They persuaded the Governor to go back to his seat.

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