A storm is brewing in Kirinyaga after Woman Representative Jane Njeri Maina launched a fierce attack on President William Ruto, accusing him of misusing public funds and neglecting the suffering of ordinary Kenyans.

Speaking on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Kutus Primary School ground during a bursary disbursement event under the Tupange Kesho initiative, Njeri claimed that the President had spent a staggering Ksh89 billion on State House operations within just three years, an amount she said former President Uhuru Kenyatta used for a period of 10 years.

She questioned the government’s priorities, saying the money being poured into the State House should instead be used to educate poor children, improve roads, and provide medicine in public hospitals.

“How can a president spend Sh89 billion in only three years while children are dropping out of school because of fees, roads are impassable, and hospitals have no medicine?” she posed.

“When will enough be enough for him? The money is meant to educate a poor child. When will it be enough for you?” she asked.

Corruption in government

Njeri further accused the President of presiding over a government where corruption had become normalised, alleging that even Cabinet Secretaries had been emboldened to steal from the public.

She cited the e-Citizen platform, claiming over Sh50 billion had been lost, and also questioned the alleged inflation of costs in the construction of Talanta Stadium, saying billions of shillings had been exaggerated.

“This government has encouraged theft. Even cabinet secretaries are stealing openly because they know the tone has been set from the top,” she said.

The outspoken legislator also criticised the President’s frequent foreign trips, saying it was shameful for the Head of State to be travelling abroad while schools lacked capitation and poor families struggled to keep their children in class.

“It is shameful for a president to keep flying around the world while back home there is a crisis. Schools have no money, parents are desperate, and children are suffering,” she said.

She said many Kenyans had trusted the president when he promised to improve livelihoods and “put money in people’s pockets”, but instead, life had become harder.

“He pretended to be the person we could trust. He promised to put money in our pockets, but now they have taken even the little we had,” she lamented.

Njeri declared that the people of Kirinyaga were now pushing for a one-term presidency, insisting that the current administration had failed to deliver.

“The people of Kirinyaga are tired. That is why they are saying one term, because you are unable to do your job together with your cabinet secretaries,” she stated.

Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango echoed her sentiments, accusing the government of punishing ordinary citizens through corruption and misplaced priorities.

Repair budget

He questioned why the State House repeatedly receives huge repair budgets while schools remain underfunded.

“Why is State House being allocated money for repairs every year while schools have no money? That budget is even bigger than what is sent to schools,” Murango said.

He criticised allocations for luxuries such as “tea and snacks” at State House, terming it unfair when children are learning in hardship.

“Reducing money for schools and increasing it for State House comforts is simply encouraging theft,” he said.

Murango further accused the president of failing coffee farmers after promising to waive their debts.

He said while billions were reportedly allocated to clear debts in the Nyanza and Western regions, Kirinyaga’s Sh6.8 billion coffee debt was removed from the budget.

“You gave Sh112 billion to clear debts in Nyanza and Western, but here in Kirinyaga our Ksh6.8 billion was removed. Now you want our people to sing ‘two terms’ so that debts can be waived?” he asked.

He challenged the president to come to Kirinyaga with solutions instead of symbolic projects.

“When you come to Kirinyaga, don’t just come to open houses, come with money to clear farmers’ debts,” he said.

Plight of the Rice Farmer

Murango also raised concerns over the importation of rice, saying farmers in Mwea were suffering because local rice remained unsold in stores while imported rice flooded the market.

He noted that rice prices had dropped sharply from Ksh85 to Ksh65 per kilo, leaving farmers counting losses.

“Our rice stores in Mwea are full, but the government is importing rice. Farmers are suffering and they are not reaping from their sweat,” he said.

Barangwe Ward MCA David Mathenge also joined the criticism, accusing the county government of failing to ensure development funds reach the people.

He said money passed by the County Assembly was not being felt on the ground and called for more bursaries, medicine in hospitals, and better roads.

“We want bursaries for our children, medicine in hospitals, and roads that serve the people. The governor must work for the people with the time remaining,” Mathenge said.

He warned that MCAs would continue to exercise strict oversight to ensure public resources benefit wananchi and are not returned to the Treasury or lost through misuse.