Karua, Mwangi deny being funded by Ruto in Linda Katiba initiative

Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua and activist Boniface Mwangi have rubbished claims that they were funded by President William Ruto in the Linda Katiba initiative.

The two were responding to allegations by President William Ruto’s Chairperson of Council of Economic Advisors David Ndii, who claimed that Ruto supported the initiative.

“Time for revelations. Linda Katiba was formed by myself and Martha with Ruto support. Martha was then a prospect for WSR (William Samoei Ruto’s) running mate. Made full disclosure which is why Makau Mutua was attacking me. Even paid Boniface (Mwangi) from WSR campaign money,” Ndii alleged.

However, according to Karua, Ndii never disclosed any source of funding, since the pioneers of the initiative funded their own activities.

“David Ndii I am disappointed you have joined the ranks of unmitigated liars. Throughout our collaboration in Linda Katiba you never disclosed of any funding from William Ruto or anybody else . We contributed for our expenses until towards the end when we secured funding from a philanthropist. If at all Ruto funded you it was your own private affair,” Karua wrote.

Karua also defended Mwangi, saying that he never received any payments from Ruto, who was then the Deputy President of Kenya.

“I am not aware of Boniface Mwangi being paid from Ruto’s money. I recall by the time Boniface Mwangi left we were not able to refund to him out-of-pocket expenses let alone remunerate him,” Karua added.

Karua, who was Raila Odinga’s running mate in the 2022 General Elections, says Ndii revealed Ruto’s funding when he already had a case in court against the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

“Towards the end you did disclose to me that you had received financial support from Ruto for your case against BBI. I was not a party to the said case and you were already in court when I joined Linda Katiba. You cannot drag me into your money deals then with Ruto. I agreed to collaborate with Ruto limited to opposing the constitution (BBI). Later when Ruto through his people and later himself I made it clear that I could not work with him,” Karua said.

Mwangi on Linda Katiba funds

According to Mwangi, Ndii was not present when the name Linda Katiba was coined, let alone sourcing funds for the group’s activities.

“David Ndii I’m ashamed that a man of your stature would stoop this low to malign my name. You know that I volunteered my time and resources to Linda Katiba. I even hosted and fed you in my home. You weren’t even in the meeting where Linda Katiba’s name was coined. If you collected money from William Ruto using my name, please account for it,” Mwangi wrote.

Former members of the Linda Katiba Movement include Jerotich Seii, former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, Wanjeri Nderu, Diana Ngao, Ndung’u Wainaina, Reuben Kigame, Daisy Amdany, Mwangi, Karua and Ndii.

Mwangi says the members are witnesses that he was never paid for the work he did for Linda Katiba.