Former Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi has claimed that the money given as handouts by leaders is cash diverted from public development projects.

Explaining why he does not believe in giving handouts, Muriithi, who is currently the chair of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Board, said leaders who dish out money are normally poor in development matters.

“They give out money to conceal their poor development record,” the former Governor said at Maili Saba trading centre during a meet-the-people tour of Laikipia West.

He was responding to youths at the centre who said that although his development record as Governor is unrivalled, he is stingy.

Muriithi said he will seek another term at the helm of the county in 2027, saying he would like to see the Smart Town programme he started revitalised and carried to completion.

The Smart Town project was meant to install streetlights, improve road infrastructure and stormwater drainage, as well as create footpaths in several towns to create a conducive environment for doing business.

Among the towns that benefited were Rumuruti, Kinamba, Wiyumiririe, Nyahururu and Karuga.

The Maili Saba residents urged him to improve the centre if elected again. Women urged for the installation of a floodlight to improve security in the centre, which is located at the junction of Nyahururu-Rumuruti road and Nyahururu-Kinamba road.

The residents accused successful County governments of not employing youths from the area.

The youths called for the rehabilitation of six dams located in the vicinity of Maili Saba, saying they can use the water to do fish farming or use the water for irrigation farming.

The youths expressed fear that if elected again, Muriithi could go the second-term governor’s way of doing nothing in his last five years in office.

Speaking during another stopover at Ol Jabet town, Muriithi appealed to leaders to tone down on insults, saying it is one reason why the economy is slowed down.

The former governor warned politicians against engaging in personal attacks and trading insults during public gatherings.

He emphasised that the growing trend of politics driven by insults is not only a threat to national development but also undermines modern democracy and peaceful coexistence.