State House rubbishes claim President Ruto called lawyer Morara Kebaso

State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed has come out to refute the claim that President William Ruto called and offered a job to firebrand lawyer Morara Kebaso, who has recently become popular for going round the country fact-checking government projects.

Kebaso, speaking on Citizen TV’s JKLive Show on Wednesday, alleged that he was approached by the President with an offer for a State position after his critical commentary of government projects gained widespread attention on social media.

He told show host Jeff Koinange that Ruto’s entourage initially reached out to him, before the Head of State personally called him with the plum job offer.

“Initially, I had calls from people around the President. Then eventually I got a call from the President. I spoke to him very respectfully because he is our President and he has been given that mandate by the people,” said Kebaso.

“Whatever I was offered, I refused. I believe it (government) is overcrowded over there. There are enough people over there and being a brilliant person and a person of integrity, I believe that if I go into government, I am going there to be corrupt.”

He added: “There is too much demand for corruption and for you to steal money and give to certain people. I’d be depressed working there; I’d rather stay at my furniture shop and do my business.”

Mohamed however called in live during the show and rubbished Kebaso’s claim, terming it as a mere figment of his own imagination.

The State House Spokesperson also went ahead to commend Kebaso for the work he has been doing in keeping the government accountable, however only urging him to go about his activities in an honest manner.

According to Mohamed, most of the projects highlighted by Kebaso as stalled or incomplete were launched under the previous administration, but President Ruto has committed to finishing them nevertheless.

“It’s unbelievable, I’m just shocked at what the gentleman, Morara, is saying. I wonder why he would lie on national TV that the President called him, it’s ridiculous that I have to respond to this…For the record, such a call never happened, it’s a figment of his imagination,” he said.

“What Morara and many Kenyans are doing is good, it’s part of accountability and the President welcomes it, that is what democracy is all about. But even as we talk about democracy and hold the government accountable, it is important that we do it truthfully.”

Mohamed added: “I responded to Morara before and he’s just saying what was in the Kenya Kwanza manifesto, that the President promised to complete stalled projects, including roads…and mot of them were launched and construction began way before President Ruto assumed office. The mess was back then, but as a responsible President, Ruto is doing what ought to have been done…he promised and he will do it.”

Kebaso, in response, maintained his claim that the President had reached out to him, intimating that maybe it is Mohamed who is not aware of his boss’ personal phone conversations as much as he thinks.

He however went ahead to brush aside the matter as miniature, instead asking Mohamed to respond to issues of national importance such as his exposes of government projects where billions of public funds had allegedly been looted.

“When it comes to truth, so far, my record speaks for itself. Everything that I have told Kenyans has turned out to be truthful, and even him – Hussein – has not been able to controvert any of the projects that I have visited in the 19 counties,” stated the lawyer. 

“I wonder why Hussein purports to know who the President calls or doesn’t, I’d like him to call the President and ask him. I did not say I spoke with Hussein Mohamed, I said I spoke with the President.”