Kathiani MP Mbui: Ruto insults Ukambani leaders, doles out cash to attract crowds
By Kiprono Keileb, November 14, 2025Kathiani MP Robert Mbui has criticised President William Ruto, calling him out for using cash handouts to attract crowds during political rallies while insulting leaders from Ukambani.
The remarks came during a political talk show aired on a local television station on Friday, November 14, 2025.
Mbui said that the president’s strategy is focused more on distributing money than gaining genuine public support.
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“If he is coming with goodies, I am not talking about the roads, footbridges and transformers he is coming to launch, we are talking about the hard cash he gives people. You go anywhere in this country and say you are dishing out money, tell me who will be left in the house,” he stated
The MP expressed doubt over the authenticity of the crowds that attend Ruto’s events.
“I look at crowds and I feel they should have been 10 times more. There is money to be dished out, so people are going there because they know they are going to get money. The reality is that people don’t come to his rallies because they believe in him. He wants to show that he is popular by bribing people and dishing out money,” Mbui said.
He also condemned what he described as disrespect toward Ukambani leaders during the president’s recent visit to the region.
“William went to Ukambani and insulted the leaders from that area. He said they have no brain,” Mbui stated.
The MP’s comments come amid a series of political engagements in various counties, as presidential hopefuls seek to consolidate support ahead of upcoming elections in the Ukambani region.
Mbui’s critique highlights growing tensions between the national leadership and local political figures in Ukambani, a region historically significant in Kenyan politics.
Cash handouts could fuel debates about electoral fairness, voter influence, and the ethics of campaign strategies.
Meanwhile, Mbui’s statements underline the importance of political accountability and respect for regional leadership, as the country navigates a charged political season.