By Gilbert Wandera
A law barring sitting and aspiring politicians from conducting fundraisers is already causing tension and even breeding hostility with the voters in Nairobi County.
Despite the ban having come into effect last month, those aspiring for elective posts are still receiving invitations to attend fundraisers for various courses and most of them are having to decline in a move that may likely cost them votes when elections are held.
Five crates of soda
School prize giving days form the majority of invites the politicians are turning down. Recently the Makadara Constituency Prize giving day held at Baraka Primary School in Buru Buru, which brought together 28 schools was snubbed by politicians.
According to the host school’s headmistress Celine Omondi, all the politicians who were invited declined to attend or to donate anything save for the area councilor who sent five crates of sodas.
“We invited all those who are aspiring for the governorship position, MPs and even councilors but none of them turned up and we later realised it was because of the new law that bars them from attending such functions. We wish we had held the function before the new law came into effect,” she said.
Among those who were invited but skipped the event are aspiring governors Evans Kidero and Philip Kisia, Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa and area MP Gideon Mbuvi.
Mrs Omondi says last year, they did not have a problem with the politicians as most turned up for the event held at Buru Buru Girls High School.
“Last year most of them graced our occasion and gave out cash donations and even trophies to our top pupils,” she revealed.
But not all schools have been unlucky, the newly established Makongeni High School received important guests during their prize giving ceremony held just before the law barring Harambees came into effect.
Dr Kidero and Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa were the chief guests during the function and donated cash. Kidero gave out Sh100,000 to pay the school fees of 20 students at the school. He also undertook to pay school fees for all the top students in Form Two, Three and Four. The Mayor on the other hand donated Sh100,000 and also gave out Sh50,000 each to the school’s music and handball team’s for qualifying for the nationals.
