DP Gachagua: Ruto’s China Loan Secrecy Linked to Media Anxiety
On Sunday, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua disclosed that President William Ruto had chosen to withhold information regarding the quantity of Chinese funding received by the nation.
Ruto traveled to China in October in pursuit of a $1 billion (Ksh151 billion) credit to finish road construction projects that had become stalled.
While attending a religious service at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Dallas, Embu County, the DP stated that the Head of State was concerned that the media would exaggerate the situation.
“Ring Road (in Embu County) that had stalled and all other stalled roads will be completed. The President was recently out of the country and we received funding,” Gachagua remarked.
“We do not want to say how much because the media is always following us and when we say something, they expose us making donors withdraw support.”
Gachagua stated that although the precise sum remained undisclosed, it was sufficient to complete stalled projects throughout the nation.
ALSO READ:
- Kalonzo’s 2027 Dilemma: A Tough Call on Backing Raila Again
- Media Giant Standard Group on Brink of Auction in Landmark Ksh4.1M Defamation Battle
The DP further stated that contractors would recommence their efforts on the infrastructure projects shortly to ensure their timely completion.
Before the current unspecified loan, 64 percent of Kenya’s Ksh10.5 trillion debt was owed to China.
The majority of the funds were borrowed during the administration of former President Uhuru Kenyatta to fund various infrastructure projects, including the Ksh324 billion Standard Gauge Railway.
Following his inauguration in September 2022, President William Ruto declared that his administration would not undertake any further road projects until the completion of the ongoing ones.
“I want to say that no new roads will be built by the national government until all the incomplete roads are completely upgraded,” he stated then.
Among the most severely impacted areas was Embu County, whose primary thoroughfare leading to Embu University was only 2.9% complete before its obstruction.
As per the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Uhuru left a cumulative count of 59 unfinished major roads.
DP Gachagua: Ruto’s China Loan Secrecy Linked to Media Anxiety
