The new moneybags: Ruto allies splurge millions on ‘empowerment’ drives

But Mr Mbadi is not the only leader opening his wallet.

Suna East MP Junet Mohamed spent at least Sh12 million over the same period. Like Mr Mbadi, he also travels by helicopter to attend the events.

Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi, who chairs the National Assembly Budget Committee, parted with at least Sh2 million in the past week alone.

The three are among a growing number of pro-broad-based government politicians and State officials using weekends away from official duties to engage in political mobilisation.

Over the past two weekends, they have attended three consecutive public gatherings branded as women's economic empowerment programmes.

The meetings are intended to bring together women entrepreneurs for training on business growth, financial inclusion and entrepreneurship. But those themes rarely take centre stage.

Instead, politics dominates the gatherings, transforming fundraising events into high-profile political spectacles.

Participants are drawn into the political atmosphere through the distribution of branded merchandise, including party-coloured caps, while most speakers devote their addresses to the 2027 General Election, urging voters to re-elect them and launching attacks on the opposition.

Politicians with national ambitions also rally support for President William Ruto, whose financial contribution is usually announced and delivered by Mr Mbadi.

Cash in a backpack

The latest gathering was held on Saturday in Nyabisawa, Suna East Constituency, Migori County, where organisers announced that Sh35 million had been raised.

The largest contribution came from Mr Mohamed, who donated Sh10 million, carrying the cash in a backpack. The dramatic gesture left many of his constituents astonished by the scale of his generosity.

President Ruto also contributed Sh10 million, as announced by Mr Mbadi.

A day earlier, the same group had attended a similar event in Homa Bay Town Constituency.

During the function at Ndiru Primary School, President Ruto donated Sh2 million, with Mr Mbadi matching the amount.

Mr Atandi, Mr Junet, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo each contributed Sh1 million.

Much of the money was delivered in cash and displayed publicly before the crowds.

On June 20, the leaders attended another event at Asumbi Girls National School, where discussions centred largely on the national Budget presented by Mr Mbadi on June 11.

The Treasury CS defended the 2026 Finance Bill, describing it as one of the best ever presented. He dismissed claims that the Bill is controversial, accusing government critics of deliberately spreading misinformation.

According to Mr Mbadi, opposition to the Bill was driven more by politics and ethnicity than by its actual contents.

“Everybody will agree with me that the Bill I took to Parliament has no problems. What was controversial was politics and ethnicity. Just because I made it, they believe it is not good,” Mr Mbadi said.

The CS also criticised some legislators for opposing the Bill without reading it, claiming that some MPs had possessed copies for two months but never took the time to study them.

During the Ndiru event, CS Mbadi pledged additional funding for women-led businesses in Homa Bay, saying women remain central to the fight against poverty.

“Globally, women have proven to be the primary drivers of poverty eradication through financial reinvestment. Their workforce injects millions back into the economy,” Mr Mbadi wrote on X during the meeting.

Other leaders encouraged women to embrace available empowerment programmes to expand their businesses and improve household incomes.

In Migori, Dr Omollo said the initiative was designed to give women an opportunity to grow their enterprises.

He noted that women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Kenya’s economy, particularly in agriculture, retail trade and the informal sector, according to Treasury data.

“In a family where a woman is financially stable, all her dependants, including her husband and children, will be okay,” Dr Omollo said.

Ms Wanga said women are generally more prudent in managing finances.

“Men are lavish spenders. Women, on the other hand, ensure that the little they receive is shared among many people,” she said.

The empowerment drives form part of the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which places micro, small and medium enterprises at the centre of job creation and economic growth.

However, political commentators have questioned whether the programmes genuinely benefit ordinary citizens.

Interface Community Help Desk Chairperson Evance Oloo argued that handing out cash to individuals does not amount to meaningful economic empowerment, noting that many recipients eventually receive less than Sh5,000, an amount often exhausted within days.

Instead, he urged politicians to provide productive assets such as sewing machines, welding equipment and motorcycles.

“I doubt the money is used to expand businesses. Most of it goes towards meeting immediate household needs. Tools of trade can generate income over a much longer period,” Mr Oloo said.

The generous donations have also fuelled public debate over the source of the funds and the significance of such lavish displays of philanthropy.

Mr Oloo questioned whether some of the money could have been diverted from development projects.

“Leaders should not use money to buy public support. Those resources would be better spent implementing projects that improve people’s lives,” he said.

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