Minister Attacked For Rewarding Pregnant Women

Youth and Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary (CS) Sicily Kariuki has caused an online stir after reports emerged that she had awarded pregnant women in Kiambu County.

The Minister reportedly gave Sh30,000 to every pregnant woman on Saturday during a tour of the County, raising questions over the source of the money.

Reports indicate that Ms Kariuki rewarded the women as an appreciation for getting pregnant, an action that was hailed by area Member of Parliament Jude Njomo.

Earlier on, the CS stated that she was heading to the area to issue cheques to women groups under the Women Enterprise Fund (WEF).

On my way to Kiambu to issue cheques to women groups under the Women Enterprise Fund, @WEF_kenya . Wanawake tuendelee mbele!

— Mrs. Sicily Kariuki (@SicilyKariuki) June 10, 2016

Her actions led to a section of Kenyans questioning whether she gave the token from her personal account or she used public funds. Others also complained why she concentrated on Kiambu instead of rewarding women from marginalised areas.

Some, however, supported the move saying that it didn't matter where she sourced the money.

Efforts by Kenyans.co.ke to confirm the origin of the money were futile as calls to the Ministry and WEF went unanswered.

Here are the reactions:

Hoping the 30k each for getting pregnant that you handed out didn't come from the Fund. https://t.co/JG8TTHSLam

— Ory Okolloh Mwangi (@kenyanpundit) June 13, 2016

@kenyanpundit @SicilyKariuki 30k that could have gone towards rehab and projects to....create employment.

— Francis Hook (@FrancisHookDF) June 13, 2016

@CruzMwangi @FrancisHookDF @kenyanpundit @SicilyKariuki Why not in Mandera where either Mother or baby won't survive!

— Abu Farhan (@M4bdi) June 13, 2016

@francishookdf @kenyanpundit @sicilykariuki u cant decide on what one does with his or her money..soo please

— HIMSELF (@CruzMwangi) June 13, 2016

@kenyanpundit it appears @SicilyKariuki is already on the campaign trail

— Robert Nagila (@Rnagila) June 13, 2016

@kenyanpundit Meanwhile solving high rates of employment but produce more kids to join the unworking class? SMH @SicilyKariuki

— Francis Hook (@FrancisHookDF) June 13, 2016

@kenyanpundit @SicilyKariuki not surprised. all she does is move from town to town relaunching things and giving out cash. Check her tl

— Harambee (@JesseKenya) June 13, 2016

@rwmungai2014 @kenyanpundit @ChiefKeya @SicilyKariuki Jesus i thought it was my hometown kambu only to read again kiambu @BenjiNdolo

— larry kioko (@larritto) June 13, 2016

@kenyanpundit @SicilyKariuki if it's from her own saving I gt no problm bt kama ni taxpayers, you'll have 2 explain it to me like a 2yr old.

— Charles Omondi (@jagwengwa) June 13, 2016

@richbom @kenyanpundit @sicilykariuki Some people have money..its no crime to give if you got cash.

— HIMSELF (@CruzMwangi) June 13, 2016

@Richbom @CruzMwangi @kenyanpundit @SicilyKariuki kwani in turkana kuna uthamaki ? all wasteful things are done i 2 provinces

— haki (@aamj1100) June 13, 2016

@kenyanpundit @SicilyKariuki I though the money would have been given to men as incentive to make them pregnant!

— Tiberius Mutoro (@Mutoros) June 13, 2016

@kenyanpundit @Rnagila @SicilyKariuki 30,000 each? For adding to rising population? What about the forgotten marginalised communities?

— Arap Katam (@Gideonkattam1) June 13, 2016