A Nairobi businessman has linked Deputy President William Ruto to a Sh28 billion deal to construct a new referral hospital in Eldoret town.
Herbert Ojwang’ appeared before the National Assembly Public Investments Committee chaired by Eldas MP Adan Keynan and requested it to investigate the matter, which he claims is irregular.
Ojwang' claims that he had taken a proposal to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital saying he could find investors to increase its bed capacity. In return, he was to earn a commission from the finance cost of the upgrade.
The businessman told the committee that he identified a Chinese company that would finance and construct the extensions for Sh17 billion, but Ruto instead pushed for construction of a new 2,000-bed hospital at a different site – for Sh28 billion.
Ojwang' tabled an audio recording and pictures to prove he was coerced into pulling out of the contract deal.
He claimed that he was also given the option of parting with 50 per cent of his commission, which he agreed to.
In agreements entered with a consortium of Chinese companies allegedly led by China Wu Yi and the China Machinery Engineering Corporation, Ojwang’ was entitled to 5 per cent as commission of the Sh17 billion tender- about Sh850 million.
However, the committee members wondered why a deal of this magnitude had progressed without the involvement of the National Treasury and the businessman said that the negotiations were still in process.
In a document that he presented to the committee, he claims that he held his first meeting with the hospital's CEO, Dr John Kibosia. Thereafter, a series of meetings between him, the companies and Kibosia followed.
“After the meeting in Nairobi and Eldoret, it was finally agreed that a delegation from the MTRH visits China to acquaint themselves with the model of hospitals and equipment that would be used in the hospital,” Ojwang’ said.
Ojwang claimed that the committee's expenses were taken care of, including giving each of the seven staff members on the trip a Samsung tablet and US$2,000 (Sh190,623) for shopping.
However, he said that Kibosia later walked into his office on Milimani Road and told him that the Deputy President wanted to meet them at his Harambee Annex office. Caleb Kositany (an aide to the DP) and the Chinese team were also required to be present during the meeting.
“Only a week after visiting Ruto’s offices, another meeting was called and I was told that the DP had given instructions that I surrender the agreement document signed between me and the Chinese companies.”