In the terms of the Government to Government oil accord, Ruto responds to Raila.

President William Ruto has publicly challenged opposition leader Raila Odinga to provide evidence supporting his claims that the government-to-government oil deal is a scam.

In a speech delivered during a church service in Bomet on November 19, 2023, Ruto vehemently defended the transparency of his administration and the legitimacy of the oil deal established between his government and Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Odinga had recently raised concerns over the deal’s transparency, urging the government to make public the contracts signed between the involved parties. In response, Ruto maintained the deal’s legitimacy and benefits, pointing to the interest of neighboring countries like Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda in pursuing similar agreements.

“I challenge the opposition to provide proof that the oil deal is a scam instead of demanding proof that it is not,” Ruto declared. He urged Raila to cease spreading misinformation, citing confirmation from oil marketers that the deal is in the best interest of Kenya and its citizens.

Ruto asserted that the contracts are publicly accessible and invited opposition legislators to review the documents in Parliament, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to transparency. “There is no secret contract anywhere,” Ruto stated, welcoming scrutiny from both government and opposition MPs.

Raila had previously cast doubt on the Government-to-Government (G2G) oil deal, signed in early 2023, questioning its effectiveness as the cost of oil had not decreased as intended. “The deal was a scam for which we now demand full disclosure and full accountability. It is corrupt and rotten to the core,” Raila asserted.

Ruto’s administration implemented the government-to-government oil supply contracts in March 2023 in response to the shilling’s significant depreciation against the dollar.

Despite the government’s rationale, Raila argued that landlocked countries relying on Kenya for oil are abandoning Kenya’s pipeline due to its rising costs. He also criticized the deal’s alleged secrecy, claiming that only two documents have been made public to date.

The escalating exchange between Ruto and Raila has intensified the already contentious narrative surrounding the controversial oil agreement.