Deputy President William Ruto rejected a Ksh 40,000 donation by Murang'a senator Irungu Kang'ata during a fundraiser in his county.
Kang'ata had received leaders from United Democratic Alliance (UDA) for the fundraiser which was led by Ruto to raise money for an education kitty the DP had backed.
DP Ruto led the fund drive at Gatunyu Grounds in Murang’a County on Wednesday, November 3 where he launched a Ksh100 million kitty to support disadvantaged learners in the region.
Leaders and guests matched forward and presented their envelopes to the second in command who announced what each had contributed. When Kang’ata got to the podium, he handed Ksh40,000 to Ruto who declined to take the contribution.
The DP then challenged Senator Kang'ata to increase his contribution and teased him that a leader of his calibre and a Murang'a gubernatorial aspirant should give more than the Ksh40,000.
"You want to be governor, Ksh40,000 is not enough for a gubernatorial candidate, go and look for Ksh100,000 and bring here. A governor can't give Ksh40,000," the DP said amid laughter from the crowd.
Ruto also challenged leaders to champion quality education noting that Kenya will only develop through education. Kang'ata left the podium and later came back with the Ksh100,000 which he handed to the Deputy President amid cheers.
The senator was once labelled Kenya's poorest MP due to his dressing style and love for a simple lifestyle. Irungu, in an interview in 2016, admitted that he hated suits and the few he possessed were in no condition to even be worn by his fellow legislators.
Despite having a salary of close to Ksh1 Million, as MP, Kang'ata reportedly owned a phone worth Ksh10,000 and drove an old battered Toyota Corolla with a dent on its right side.
During the interview, he reportedly arrived at his office in Murang’a Town wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and black shoes, with no socks where he claimed his lifestyle did not matter.
“I live a simple life. I am a pragmatic guy. I do not like a showy life and extravagance. Surely what value does a big car add to my life? It does not matter if a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice?”
After being elected in 2013, the lawmaker narrated how he was ejected from the canteen reserved for MPs by guards who thought he was an imposter due to his dressing.
“They thought I was a driver and asked me to come back with my employer, who was supposed to be the MP. I had to produce an ID and wait for it to be verified,” he stated.
Irungu is said to have bought a Prado after being accused of embarrassing his constituents but later on abandoned it and gave it to women groups to be used in family functions.
