Meru County CEC for Roads, Transport and Energy, Julius Taitumu M’anaiba, has told Igembe North 2022 MP aspirant Eng. Justus Kagwima that it is too early to start soliciting sympathy votes.
This follows allegations that Ruto gave Ksh 300,000 to women in Laare, Meru County, during his recent visit and entrusted it to Kagwima, but it was not given to them. Taitumu is said to have ripped it apart after grabbing it from Kagwima.
According to Ruth, a resident, they were told that Taitumu ripped the money into pieces and that Kagwima applied for a loan so that the women could be given money.
“Taitumu ambushed Kagwima at Kaelo and ripped the money into pieces after he borrowed Ksh 300,000 from the DP on our behalf. Every night our children cry because they are hungry,” an eyewitness said.
Jackeline said that when women approached Taitumu and demanded the money, he said he didn’t have any and handed them bananas instead.
“We were perplexed as to what we were supposed to do with the bananas, so we abandoned them and returned home empty-handed,” said Jackeline.
Speaking to Baite Tv, Taitumu said that Kagwima should stop lying to the residents of Igembe North about the money being stolen and that instead of attending radio station interviews, he should have reported the incident to the police because it was a robbery.
“Participating in radio interviews is a form of propaganda. He claimed that he had been robbed and that he had applied for a loan. I’d like to ask him if a loan is made immediately after a robbery. It’s more accurate to say that because he is known to be wealthy, he spent his own money and distributed Ksh 100 each to the women in Mutuati,” said Taitumu.
According to Taitumu, he was curious how Kagwima managed to quickly assemble a population of 3000 people, each of whom were given Ksh 100.
“He should avoid treating the people of Igembe as fools and praising them in order to gain votes. I’d like to advise him that in the event of a robbery, he should go to the DCI’s office, as well as many other government offices,” said Taitumu.
Taitumu said that he was aware that Kagwima intended to smear his reputation as a result of Ruto’s Ksh 300,000 donation to the boda boda operators in Laare and the Ksh 500,000 donation to the mama mbogas.
Taitumu said that Kagwima still possesses Ruto’s donations.
