President Ruto Announces New Trip To Italy

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President Ruto Announces New Trip To Italy

On Sunday, January 14, President William Ruto revealed his plans to travel to Italy later this month to secure financial support for water projects in the country that are currently facing delays.

Addressing the congregation at a church event in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Ruto clarified that he had received an invitation from President Sergio Mattarella to visit Italy and would be making the trip.

Ruto stated that he plans to attract investors to revive the delayed Arror and Kimwarer dams in Elgeyo Marakwet, as well as the Itare Dam in Nakuru County.

“As leaders here have said, on how the county will move forward. We have spoken about roads and water projects which have stalled in this area,” he explained the need to look for investors.

“I spoke to the President of Italy where the investors came from and I will travel there this month.”

Ruto announced that on his journey, he would be joined by Governors Wisley Rotich from Elgeyo Marakwet and Susan Kihika from Nakuru.

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The leader mentioned that the delegation had been briefed on the exact whereabouts of the dams that are currently not progressing.

In December 2023, Henry Rotich, the ex-Treasury Cabinet Secretary, was cleared of charges related to the Ksh63 billion Arror and Kimwarer dam scandal, which had led to the project’s failure.

The Chief Secretary, along with eight others, faced charges of conspiring to defraud Ksh63 billion allocated for the construction of the multi-purpose dams.

“All the accused persons, in this case, are whereby acquitted under section 201 due to lack of evidence as a result of the reckless dereliction of duty by the prosecution,” the court ruled then.

President William Ruto initiated the implementation of the strategy to attract Italian investors in March 2023.

“We have further committed, in good faith, to re-establish cooperation on the construction of Arror, Kimwarer, and Itare dams and other water and sanitation projects which are critical to our agenda on food security and climate action,” he stated then.

The investors have agreed to advance Kenya over Ksh14 billion towards the completion of the projects.

President William Ruto with President Sergio Mattarella of Italy at State House Nairobi on March 14, 2023.

President Ruto Announces New Trip To Italy

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