There had been a lot of speculations since DP Ruto’s Uganda trip was cancelled on Monday, August 2.
It emerged that the trip was cancelled because of a suspicious man in his entourage, said to be having terrorism links.
However, the DP has come out to defend Harun Aydin, a Turkish national who was to accompany him on his Uganda trip.
Speaking during an interview on Inooro TV, Deputy President Willliam Ruto said that Aydin was a respectable businessman with a good reputation.
“There were 3 other businessmen, respected people. For that one (Harun Aydin) the Turkish Embassy itself has released a report saying he has a work permit, is a recognized businessman and is an investor in Kenya. I have not said that,” DP Ruto said.
The second in command warned Kenyans against sending away investors from the country through political propaganda.
“Those trying to say he is a terrorist are spoiling the good image of Kenya. How can you call an investor a terrorist?” Ruto posed.
In a report on the Daily Nation, the Turkish embassy cleared the air about the authenticity of Harun Aydin.
The office said that he is a law-abiding citizen, who had travelled to Nairobi legally, to conduct business.
This is contrary to earlier speculations that Aydin is of a questionable character due to his frequent return trips from Nairobi to Turkey.
However, this was not the first time Harun Aydin is accompanying William Ruto on an Uganda trip.
In July, the Turkish businessman accompanied Ruto to Uganda, where he commissioned a vaccine plant alongside President Yoweri Museveni. Later on they travelled to Zanzibar.
The revelations by DP Ruto echoes an earlier explanation by members of his camp.
After the failed trip on Monday, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi called out the media for terming Aydin as a terrorist yet he was an investor, involved in fruit farming business.
