Igembe South Member of Parliament-elect John Paul Mwirigi on Monday, September 4, stated that he will neither take back or sell the car gifted to him by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2017.
Speaking on KTN, Mwirigi who won his reelection on a United Democratic Alliance -UDA ticket revealed that President Kenyatta pledged to support him and ensure that he works for the people of Igembe South.
“I am giving you this vehicle so that you can work for the people of Igembe South and am going to support you so that you can deliver to your people,” he revealed.
The MP who was first elected in August in 2017 as an independent at the age of 23 years made history as Kenya’s youngest Member of Parliament. He says that he had campaigned with no money at a time when the odds were against him.
He further revealed how he carried out a door to door campaign with resources donated by well wishers. He noted that during his first term as a lawmaker, most people lacked confidence in him. However, he won the hearts of many after he was re-elected during the 2022 General election on UDA.
Mwirigi heaped praise on President Uhuru Kenyatta terming him a good man. He revealed how Uhuru encouraged him at the time he was giving him the car, adding that he gifted him unconditionally.
The Igembe South legislature told off those who castigated him for defecting to United Democratic Alliance (UDA) noting that Uhuru had not taken issue with his move. In addition, the first-time legislator noted that the Head of State did not use the vehicle as a measure of his loyalty.
Mwirigi has previously argued that the gift was from both Uhuru and Ruto, noting that the idea came from the outgoing deputy president, but was executed by the Head of State.
He divulged that he decamped to UDA because Ruto was very responsive whenever he reached out to him and launched several development projects in his constituency.
“I had no issues with the President, but early this year some of his allies started pushing me because of my thinking or line of politics that I followed the Deputy President,”
Mwirigi accused Agriculture CS Peter Munya of threatening him to toe the line or forfeit the vehicle gifted by the Head of State.
The MP promised to make a date with the Head of State when he goes home for retirement and gift him.