Kimani Ichung’wah, the Kikuyu MP on Sunday, May 24, warned residents of a fake batch of donations branded with his name and Deputy President William Ruto’s Foundation at Gikambura area.
Ichung’wah revealed that the foodstuff donations were being transported in a white Land Cruiser that traversed across Kikuyu Constituency. The donations which arrived in the area at around 6 p.m on Sunday bearing his name and that of the Deputy President’s foundation.
The legislator noted that they were not the source of the donations adding that they did not distribute anything openly and on vehicles by the roadside or stadiums.
According to the Kikuyu MP, one family had to seek medical attention after consuming what could have been contaminated sugar.
Ruto for his part issued a denial concerning the donation, through a statement written by his spokesperson and warned those trying to score political points using such tactics.
The William Ruto Foundation would like to categorically and unequivocally distance itself from the distribution of relief food that has affected residents of Kikuyu Constituency.
The donations in question are NOT from the William Ruto Foundation.
We sympathize with those who have been affected and pray for their speedy and full recovery. We shall follow up with the local leadership to assist them with medical care as is appropriate in consultation with Health officials.
Ichung’wa added that their interventions were done through known church leaders and from an identified list of beneficiaries identified by religious and community leaders.
He urged residents of Kikuyu constituency to spread the word of fake donations and insisted that their donations would be delivered to their doorsteps.
The incident came days after Deputy President William Ruto donated food through his William Ruto Foundation in partnership with Ichung’wa to over 600 vulnerable families in Nachu Ward, Kiambu County.
Ruto noted that the 600 families were part of at least 3,600 wider households he was targeting to reach.
“We are committed to ensuring that vulnerable Kenyans are supported during this tough period of the Covid-19 crisis besides coming up with broad plans that will facilitate the country’s rapid recovery from the disease,” read Ruto’s statement.
The Deputy President also on Saturday, May 23, distributed goats to the Muslim community in preparation for the Idd celebrations on Sunday.
