Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata has strongly defended himself after he appeared to be pressured by Deputy President William Ruto to increase his contribution.
The event earlier this month in Murang’a, according to Mr Kang’ata, was to support one candidate for a local political seat for a UDA ticket, the party that Dr. Ruto has announced he will use to run for the 2022 presidency.
In a video circulated online, the deputy president was heard urging the senator running for governor Murang’a to increase his contribution to Sh100,000. In addition, Kang’ata had donated Sh40,000. Ruto said the contribution was “very small compared to his status”.
“Don’t you want a governor? No, Sh40,000 is not enough governor. Stop that, go find Sh100,000 and bring it, stop bothering us. Which governor of Sh40,000? Go find the money, ” the deputy president told him, seemingly pushing him away from the stage.
It is an event that has sparked online debate and emotion, with the video being shared by contributors and users. Some leaders and politicians from Mount Kenya, denounced the incident as “degrading to the people of the area”.
Speaking in Nairobi, senator Kang’ata however said it was Ruto’s joke and that he did not take the incident seriously.
“My contribution was voluntary, I volunteered without being forced by anyone,” he said, defending Ruto.
“Following my joke with the deputy president, I do not complain. It was not an event to be taken lightly,” Mr Kang’ata said.
He said it is common for politicians to sometimes spark humor and flirt. Dr. Ruto has been involved in various donation events, such as church building synergies.
Similarly, he has been giving millions of dollars to groups of women and youth while championing his wheelbarrow UDA and bottom-up economic approach targeting mama mbogas mothers and bodaboda operators.
While his opponents demanded that he explain the source of the money he was distributing, some locals had witnessed violent chaos after he left.
The vice president has been using donation tactics and raising business development groups to campaign for the presidency next year.
His visit to Kondele, Kisumu November was marred by violence, with his convoy being attacked by what the police claimed was “incited by people to misunderstand the distribution of the money he gave”.
His opponents, led by ODM leader Raila Odinga, have been pushing for him to be clear about the essence of the millions he is distributing to the public. In addition, they have linked him to corruption scandals and embezzlement.
