The government defended President William Ruto’s State House meetings, dismissing claims that the institution has lost its prestige by hosting groups such as traders and boda boda riders.
In a statement on Tuesday, September 16, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said those criticising the gatherings were missing the essence of how the Kenya Kwanza administration came to power.
“For those saying that State House has lost its glory for hosting many hustlers, they forget that this government wasn’t formed through boardroom deals of the who is who, but by the Mama Mbogas, Boda Boda riders and small traders in the market places and through the many roadsides and town halls in those small places across the country,” he stated.
Mwaura added that the symbolism within the presidency reflects the administration’s roots, pointing to Ruto’s presidential standard.
“That’s why the presidential standard has a wheelbarrow symbol on it hanging high up on State House. If you look keenly at the major programs by the government, most of them are to empower the very people who voted for us,” he added.
In the recent past, Ruto has been hosting meetings at State House, including with grassroots leaders and leaders from different regions.
For instance, on Tuesday, September 2, he hosted grassroots leaders from Turkana County in a meeting where he outlined ambitious development plans worth billions of shillings aimed at transforming the region’s infrastructure and economic prospects.
Prior to this meeting, Ruto had on Friday, August 29, hosted grassroots leaders from Meru County led by Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma.
Earlier, on Wednesday, August 27, Ruto had hosted grassroots leaders from Kiambu County.
The meeting was attended by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, alongside senior political leaders from the region including National Assembly Majority Leader and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah, Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a, Kiambu Woman Representative Anne Wamuratha, and Kiambaa MP Njuguna Kawanjiku.
The meetings caught the attention of Narok Senator Ledama Olekina who termed them a misuse of taxpayers’ money.
In a statement on Wednesday, September 3, Olekina advised Ruto to embrace digital town halls as a cost-cutting measure.
“You may not like what I have to say but I’ll say it anyway: State House lunches equals to a waste of public funds. Bus rides, per diems and buffets don’t build roads or jobs.
“Mr. President, pause county visits and State House lunches for 100 days; embrace digital town halls. End the politics of plates, embrace the politics of the future,” he said.
