Raila wants Chirchir, Ndung’u to resign over G-to-G oil deal

Opposition leader Raila Odinga is now calling for the immediate resignation of Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and his Treasury counterpart Njuguna Ndung’u.

This is over an alleged scheme in the procurement of petroleum products through a purported Government-to-Government agreement with Saudi Arabia.

Odinga claims the Kenya-Saudi deal was signed and kept secret to drive up the cost of fuel in the country while benefiting certain government officials.

He alleges that Kenya did not sign any agreement with the UAE or Saudi Arabia and that the agreement was signed between the Energy Ministry and state-owned companies in the Middle East.

Addressing journalists in Nairobi on Monday, Odinga accused Chirchir and Ndung’u of committing a crime and said they must vacate their offices and be prosecuted.

“Mr Chirchir and National Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung’u have certainly committed criminal offences, abused office and gone against the constitution. They stole money from the consolidated fund in addition to spending money way above what Parliament approved. They must not only resign but must also be prosecuted,” he said.

President William Ruto, CS Chirchir and oil marketing companies previously denied the opposition leader’s claims.

Ruto on Friday said the State does not act as a broker in the oil procurement business, but rather as an underwriter responsible for ensuring oil transactions occur without any hitches.

The oil marketing companies on their part maintained that an MoU was signed in the G-to-G oil deal and that it was also supported by existing bilateral trade relations between Kenya and the Middle Eastern countries.

But Odinga on Monday said Kenya is in the middle of state capture and a “complete takeover by cartels”

He cited Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah’s analysis which alleges that the government financed Ann Njeri Njoroge, the businesswoman at the centre of the contentious Ksh.17 billion fuel deal.

While CS Chirchir holds that the businesswoman forged documents and was not the owner of the consignment since her company is not even licensed to import petroleum, Omtatah’s account says CS Ndung'u funded the businesswoman in June to import the fuel and that she is only being used as collateral.