Citizen TV Deletes Interview Of Tuju On Billions Paid To Ruto To Support Uhuru

Citizen TV had mysteriously deleted all the social media posts and videos from its official accounts of Azimio Executive Director Raphael Tuju's interview with acclaimed news anchor Jeff Koinange on the JKLive show.

Spot checks by Viral Tea revealed that excerpts of the interview that would usually be made available on its official accounts were not available, leaving social media users concerned.

However, some netizens did pick up bits of it and shared them with the platforms. The interview on Wednesday, July 27 saw Tuju reveal how Deputy President William Ruto was paid billions in 2013 to support President Uhuru Kenyatta's bid for the State House seat.

Jubilee secretary general Raphael Tuju, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto at a past media briefing. /THE STAR

Tuju opened the lid by revealing how the funds were proceeds of well-wishers as well as those who had supported the Head of State all the way to being Kenya's fourth president.

He added that some of the billions were paid on the spot with others were paid in the form of powerful Ministries under the supervision of Ruto's allies.

"A lot of people who supported President Uhuru went out of their way to collect this money and make Ruto come on board. For a man who says Ksh7 billion only, your guess is as good as mine but it was in the billions.

"If it is necessary for me to repeat this in a court of law I will because I know I have the evidence and it is not just me, do find out from a lot of people in our circles they will tell you that there was no way Ruto was going to give anything for free," he disclosed.

He further revealed that the DP was trying to play the same games he did when he was attached to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, whose leader was Raila Odinga, currently Ruto's opponent.

Tuju noted that Uhuru opted to do the handshake with Raila in 2018 upon realising that his relationship with his junior was being put in danger.

"These are demands of payments which he did not only make on TNA that time but also made them on ODM previously.

"It was better several times over to work with an honest Raila who would be ready to work with him without demanding anything in Government, support him in Parliament instead of a Ruto who, at every corner, blackmailed the President," he added.

He further noted that the payment was made so that Ruto could support Uhuru in the race to State House.

Tuju had initially claimed that Uhuru was forced to pay some money in exchange for Ruto's support at that time. The second-in-command had issued demands that Uhuru had to meet before supporting him.

Raphael Tuju speaking during a past media briefing. /CITIZEN DIGITAL