ODM Leader Raila Odinga has challenged the philanthropic political leaders know for dishing out colossal sums of money to churches before the outbreak of Covid-19 to donate the funds to struggling Kenyans as the pandemic continues to bite.
Raila was digging out Deputy President Dr. William Ruto as he urged leaders to donate to the needy now that churches are closed. In an interview with a local FM station on Friday, the former PM wondered where the philanthropic leaders have disappeared to during this times of need.
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“We have witnessed in the past leaders go to church every weekend, on Saturday they are in church, on Sunday they are in church giving donations, Kenyans are wondering where are they now,” Raila said.
He slammed Ruto for being mute when Kenyans need them, adding that Kenyans are feeling the pinch and need assistance to cope with the directives issued by the government to contain the spreads of coronavirus.
Raila made the comments a day after his wife Ida Odinga, Bidco and Jimmy Wanjigi among other sponsors donated a consignment worth Sh 15 to Kibra residents. The items that included food, sanitisers, soap, oil and water were donated through the national government.
Raila is not popular as a philanthropist but this time he strained to help residents of Kibra during the coronavirus pandemic crisis through donations from his friends.
He said that he will continue talking to his friends again to help slums dwellers in Nairobi and other towns in Kenya as his remarks remain a possible recipe that could elicit a heated political debate between his supporters and those of Ruto.
The AU special envoy who has not taken a pay cut like the DP and other senior government officials has repeated called on authorities to investigate the source of the hefty donations dished out to churches.
“These must be proceeds of corruption and part of a wider money-laundering racket. Every weekend this church Sh5 million, that church Sh5 million, that other church Sh 5 million. Every weekend 15 million yet your monthly salary is only Sh1 million.” he asked.
Ruto had in the past staed that he will donate money to the church despite critics claiming that politicians use the clergy to ‘clean’ corruption proceeds.
A man who declared that he can’t be a ‘hustler’ on earth and heaven is completely missing in action or closely monitoring actions and moves by his political opponents before making a move.
President Uhuru Kenyatta who used to gift or pledge educational supports to school going children during drama festivals has also not donated much as would be expected of him aside from the 80% pay cut.
Politicians may be silent but they are quickly finding a political narrative around the COVID-19 crisis after Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga was yesterday bashed for spending over Sh 100,000 to print his images on sanitizers donated by a private company.
Raila however did not touch on the story where twenty-one workers from Sonko Rescue Team (SRT) were arrested on Monday night while fumigating sections of Nairobi City. Governor Mike Sonko is politically alligned to the DP William Ruto and efforts from such quarter may not be recognised by Mr. Odinga.
