A section of senior government officials have claimed Deputy President William Ruto launched the lower Nzoia Irrigation Project before it was ready to be commissioned.

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The DP on June 7 launched the Sh5.3 billion flood mitigation project, with the relevant ministry now saying that he never informed it he would be launching the same.

Water and Sanitation Principal Secretary Joseph Irungu on Tuesday told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that a number of issues had not been addressed before the launch.

He added that similarly, the National Irrigation Board (NIB) and the National Land Commission (NLC) and the relevant engineer were not notified or involved in the same.

He said the ministry was yet to fully compensate affected families adding that the presence of Water Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui had not been officiated in writing.

“There was no contact between the DP’s office and my office. Even my project engineer was not there. Compensation is a very sensitive matter, which we must handle well,” he said as quoted by Standard.

NIB boss George Mugambi echoed the remarks, adding that his presence was also not official, but out of orders from former Principal Secretary Fred Sigor.

“There was no contact between the DP’s office and the National Irrigation Board. I was, however, present on instructions of former PS Fred Sigor,” Mr Mugambi told the Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi led committee.

Ruto has been crisscrossing the nation launching projects lately, which has resulted in criticisms, with some politicians accusing him of using them as a 2022 campaign excuse.