Raila Odinga's pledge to tackle poverty to cost Sh137b

ODM leader Raila Odinga (fourth left) with Mt Kenya youth members at the University of Nairobi on Tuesday. [Samson Wire, Standard]

ODM leader Raila Odinga’s ambitious pledge of transferring Sh6,000 to the poor if he forms the next government will cost taxpayers at least Sh137 billion.

Raila yesterday insisted that the programme was viable, even as he fought off critics who have labelled it a ‘populist promise for political expediency’.