Saboti Member of Parliament (MP) Caleb Amisi has cautioned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and the entire opposition team on the habit of telling their voters to take handouts from the government and vote elsewhere.

Dangerous path

Taking to X on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, Amisi said the narrative can only work for new politicians who have not tasted power or for those who did good development work noticeable by citizens while in power, saying it works against leaders with zero track record.

His sentiments come shortly after Gachagua, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader, encouraged DCP supporters to take advantage of government handouts during the Mbeere North by-election. He directed the area electorate to ‘eat government money’ and vote for Newton Karish of the Democratic Party (DP) over Leo Wa Muthende of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) as their next Member of Parliament.

Wa Muthende, who eventually won the race, was receiving backup from the ruling party, UDA, as Deputy President Kithure Kindiki camped in the region to drum up support for the politician.

Feasting on handouts

”This habit of opposition leaders telling their voters to go and eat the money from the government and vote elsewhere only works in the case of new politicians who have not yet enjoyed a position of power or those who did good development work noticeable by citizens while in power. But if you served in key positions in government before and left no known record, my friend, look for something else to do at home,” Caleb Amisi said.

In his argument, the legislator gave an example of the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who remained loyal to him and resisted handouts from the state while in the opposition.

”Nyanza supported Baba fully and cordoned off the region against infiltration of government goodies; they even chased those hawking government projects with stones. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Gachagua, you can’t bake your cake and have it. You have to choose greed and principles. To succeed in central 95% support? You must make the region money-proof and/or a real opposition zone or forever hold your peace, and you can still go hang yourself, because the world will move on,” Amisis added.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) MP further stated that the only person with a fanatical following was Raila Odinga, adding that all the rest of Kenyans, including President William Ruto, must work hard or their support base will be scattered by a myriad of factors.