I totally understand where Rutoâs frustrations are coming from. To deal with the intense unpopularity he is facing, he has to spend huge amounts of money, with no guaranteed return on investment.
â A few months ago, he pumped nearly KSh 300 million into mobilizing crowds for his Mt. Kenya rallies. People took the money but didnât budge. They were left shouting âWANTAM!â In Embu town, where over KSh 10 million was spent, he was even heckled.
â He is also burning millions on the so-called empowerment programmes, but theyâve barely shifted public opinion. At the State House youth empowerment programme, over 10,000 young people were each paid KSh 2,000, while group leaders got KSh 10,000 each. Yet, the moment they left State House, they dismissed the event and the goodies that were supposedly being offered.
â Other delegations have also been hosted at State House and given KSh 10,000 per head. But even as they ate lunch inside the same compound, they were already whispering to each other, âHii kitu hatuwezi fuata.â
â On top of this, Ruto is bleeding money to keep his so-called broad-based government intact. Itâs a very expensive investment.
â Isitoshe, he has to pay MPs heavily to pass his unpopular bills. They canât afford to be both unpopular and broke, so they chose their struggle.
As they say in Kiyuyu, mĂşndĂş Ăşmwe karĂ mbogo? Is one man a buffalo so that you place all these burdens on him, alafu mumwambie WANTAM?