Safina Party leader Jimi Wanjigi has raised alarm over what he terms as President William Ruto’s questionable distribution of millions of shillings outside the official budget.
In an interview on Spice FM on Monday, August 18, Wanjigi cited the recent Sh210 million handed to Harambee Stars players, ongoing county empowerment rallies, and the proposed Sh1.2 billion State House altar as examples of unexplained expenditure. He argued that none of these funds have been reflected in the national budget.
“Where exactly is this money coming from? Was it passed in the budget? Is it from his personal pocket? If so, did he declare such wealth when assuming office? Or are we dealing with a secret slush fund at State House?” Wanjigi asked.
The Safina leader accused the presidency of operating outside financial accountability structures, warning that the practice erodes trust in public institutions at a time when counties wait months for disbursements.
But Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei defended the disbursements, framing them as personal contributions consistent with Kenya’s long-standing harambee spirit. “Empowerment did not start today. It began with Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. Anyone denying politics of empowerment is simply being dishonest,” Cherargei countered.
Wanjigi, however, dismissed that explanation, saying the scale and frequency of the cash flow pointed to state-backed financing rather than private charity. “If it is personal money, declare the source. If it is public, then it is outrightly illegal,” he maintained.
