Justin Muturi Claims President Ruto Pressured Him into Signing Suspicious Ksh129 Billion Deal with Russian Investors
Former Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Justin Muturi, has accused President William Ruto of attempting to coerce him into signing a questionable Ksh129 billion deal with Russian investors. The deal was allegedly part of a plan to fund the government’s ambitious 15-billion-tree initiative.
The deal, valued at $1 billion (Ksh129 billion), was intended to fund the planting of three billion trees to help Kenya meet its tree planting goals. Muturi, however, claims that President Ruto tried to pressure him into signing the agreement without giving him the time or opportunity to review the document.
The Controversial Phone Call
The incident allegedly took place during the 2023 December COP28 Summit in Dubai, where Muturi had traveled for a state visit. While still at the airport in Dubai, Muturi received a phone call from President Ruto. The president reportedly urged him to sign the deal, telling him that the Russian investors were waiting for his approval.
“I land in Dubai, Ruto is calling me, those Russians are in Dubai, they are waiting for you to sign the document, your staff has already worked on it, you just need to sign,” Muturi recalled in an interview.
Despite the pressure, Muturi refused to sign the document, stating that he could not approve the deal without thoroughly reviewing it upon his return to Kenya.
The Alleged Deal and Its Concerns
The deal in question was said to be a $1 billion (Ksh129 billion) grant aimed at planting three billion trees as part of Kenya’s broader goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032. The initiative is part of the government’s efforts to combat climate change and restore degraded landscapes.
However, Muturi raised concerns about the legal procedures surrounding the deal. He claimed that Ruto was trying to bypass necessary protocols, including the involvement of the National Treasury in securing foreign funds. According to Muturi, under the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, the funds from abroad must go through the National Treasury, not directly to the Ministry.
“I told them the $1 billion can only be by way of a grant, but it cannot come directly to the Ministry… under the PFM Act Section 47, it can only go through the National Treasury. But they were trying to avoid this, yet it’s money coming from abroad,” Muturi explained.
The 15 Billion Trees Initiative
In December 2022, President Ruto launched the 15 Billion Tree Planting Initiative as part of a national campaign to tackle climate change and restore Kenya’s forest cover. The initiative aims to increase Kenya’s forest cover from 12 percent to 30 percent by 2032.
While the tree planting initiative has garnered significant attention, the allegations raised by Muturi add a layer of controversy to the project. The former CS went on to express his frustration with the current administration, calling President Ruto’s leadership the “most unfortunate thing that could have happened to Kenya.”
Conclusion
The allegations made by Justin Muturi raise serious questions about the transparency and legality of the government’s dealings, particularly in relation to foreign investments and grants. With Kenya’s ambitious environmental goals at stake, it remains to be seen how these claims will affect the future of the 15 billion tree initiative.
Justin Muturi Claims President Ruto Pressured Him into Signing Suspicious Ksh129 Billion Deal with Russian Investors
