Ruto Explains Role in Government-to-Government Oil Deal in the Wake of Raila's Dossier

President William Ruto has recently claimed that the opposition is actively searching for wrongdoing within his administration, despite his resounding victory over former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the August 2022 General Election.

At the end of a two-day retreat for government officials in Nairobi on Friday, Ruto disregarded the dossier presented by Raila concerning a government-to-government oil agreement as lacking substance and importance. The president stressed that the G2G deal with Saudi Arabia was executed in a fully transparent manner, refuting Raila's claims that it was a tool for promoting corruption within the current administration. Ruto reiterated that the agreement was crucial in relieving the strain on the Dollar which had led to an oil scarcity in the nation.

This necessitated the purchase of oil through the Shilling using a government-to-government approach. In a statement, the State House clarified that the President's role in the deal was not that of a broker but simply a guarantor for international oil companies to supply the vital commodity on credit for a period of six months. Local logistics were assigned to three companies: Vivo Energy Kenya Ltd, Total Kenya Ltd, and Oryx Energies Kenya Limited.

Raila, on the other hand, alleged that the government had assisted these companies in evading the 30 per cent corporate tax by buying fuel at a reduced cost and selling it at a higher price. In return, the President emphasized his dedication to a government that operates with transparency and accountability, devoid of any scandals. He also encouraged Kenyans to openly express their criticisms and hold the government responsible, as their input is highly valued. Additionally, he assured that his administration would not use the foreign currency reserves to artificially bolster the value of the Kenyan Shilling, as his predecessor had allegedly done with USD 2 Billion.