Empowerment or political goodwill? Kenya Kwanza's cash handouts under scrutiny

Senators Joe Nyutu (Murang'a) and Samson Cherargei (Nandi) on Spice FM. [Screengrab] A dramatic exchange between Senators Joe Nyutu (Murang'a) and Samson Cherargei (Nandi) on Spice FM has exposed growing tensions over the intent, transparency, and funding of the government's empowerment drives. During the Tuesday, August 5 broadcast, the two leaders clashed over whether the ongoing cash disbursements were genuine support programs or thinly veiled campaign stunts funded through questionable means. Senator Nyutu questioned the legitimacy of the money being distributed, calling the empowerment tours "political campaigns disguised as development." He raised concerns over the lack of transparency, noting that millions are handed out in cash at public events with no traceable budgetary allocation. "Nobody will tell you about the budgetary allocation to it, nobody will issue any check, it's always in cash," said Nyutu. "We are told that those empowering our people are very generous people, but when they hold their rallies, and if you have observed them, they will talk a lot of politics, and generally they are ridiculing Rigathi Gachagua," he added, casting doubt on the credibility of the so-called empowerment initiatives. He claimed that in some cases, like a women's group of 31 members, only Sh2,000 was given to be shared, terming it a mockery. "How does someone attend five functions in a day, giving Sh2 million each time? That's Sh10 million a day. Where is this money coming from, and can it be traced?" he posed. Senator Nyutu: You'll find the Deputy President attending one empowerment program, then taking a chopper to another location and contributing the same amount , 2 or 3 million shillings. Where is this money coming from? Can we trace how it's withdrawn, from which accounts, and who... pic.twitter.com/3M0tO6741z - SpiceFM (@SpiceFMKE) August 5, 2025 Nyutu further implied the cash could be routed through confidential allocations under the Interior Ministry, shielded from audits under national security, suggesting a lack of accountability. But Cherargei pushed back, defending the initiative as part of Kenya's long-standing Harambee tradition dating back to Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. "Empowerment didn't start the other day...it started with Mzee Jomo with the spirit of Harambee, and anyone who tells you that they don't do politics of empowerment is lying through their teeth," he said. The Nandi Senator claimed that most contributions come from MPs' personal networks and not public funds. "There's no law requiring us to account for personal contributions. You can't summon someone over money raised among friends," he argued, though he admitted there's a need for better sustainability structures. He dismissed Nyutu's concerns as speculative and challenged him to raise the issue formally in the Senate. The debate then turned personal, with Cherargei drawing criticism for likening dissenting voices to 'mama mbogas' and 'boda boda riders,' prompting Nyutu to accuse him of disrespecting ordinary Kenyans. "Senator Cherargei is very economical with the truth," Nyutu retorted. Cherargei justified the cash donations as a response to the ban on political fundraising in churches, citing the case of a recently abducted activist, Mwambuli Mwagodi. He said MPs have since resorted to contributions from friends, colleagues, and even WhatsApp groups that include top leaders. "The people who are giving that money are people who are older than all of us. You don't expect them to give 100,000," he stated. "We fundraise from friends in Parliament if we have an event over the weekend." On sustainability, Cherargei said plans were underway to institutionalise the initiative. "I have told one of the chief strategists, Farouk Kibet, to put in a team to ensure we come up with a proper evaluation," he said. He dismissed the need for assessments before disbursing funds: "When you call for a medical harambee, do you conduct a needs assessment?"

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