United States ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter has defended his meeting with Deputy President William Ruto on Tuesday following online criticism.
“I will work w/all stakeholders in order to achieve peace, safety, and prosperity for both USA &Kenya. Hon DP Ruto has the ability & position to deliver this. Besides if I only worked with perfect people I would be very lonely, staying at home everyday with my imperfect self,” McCarter tweeted on Wednesday in response to criticism from one Dan Kodondi.
An ICT consultancy, McCharles Consulting Ltd had kicked off the criticism when it tweeted late on Tuesday in reaction to the envoy’s remarks at a Kenya Editors Guild luncheon where he stressed the role of the media in the anti-corruption war, saying a country without graft is able to use its resources to benefit all the people, not just a few.
“What do you guys smoke in Chicago that gets you this high?” it posed to which McCarter responded: “Not sure what you are talking about, dude. Corruption should not be tolerated in Kenya or Chicago. Btw I am not from Chicago.”
The firm was not done yet. “You come from Illinois, The greatest corruption is the illegitimate regimes your country installs through coups by means of economic sanctions and high precision weapons…” it replied.
It is then that Kodondi weighed in: ” But Bwana Amb. Last time i saw you with Dr Arap Ruto who is the high priest of graft in Kenya, such collaboration makes us question your integrity.”
The DP has been censured for his stand on the anti-graft war, which he claims is targeting him and his allies with a view to scuttling his 2022 presidential ambitions, the latest being a probe by a multi-agency team led by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations into alleged payments amounting to Ksh 21 billion to an Italian firm for construction of Arror and Kamwerer dams in Elgeyo Marakwet, which is said not to have followed due process. The projects are yet to kick off.
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After Tuesday’s meeting, Ruto said Kenya and the US are engaged to bolster trade ties and explore new opportunities to advance commerce, which will be mutually beneficial in line with Washington’s desire to deepen collaboration in manufacturing, renewable energy, health and the push to actualise Big Four Agenda.
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