Deputy President William Ruto so far has spent an estimated Sh100 million hosting more than 12,000 delegates at his Sugoi home in Uasin Gishu to campaign for the Jubilee Party.
Inside sources tell the Star the money comes from a Sh500 million budget to entertain delegations from all 47 counties before JP is launched in March.
The source of the cash is not clear, though the DP is a man of means.
Costs include transport, accommodation, food, drink and handouts to delegations.
On December 21, Ruto started by hosting more than 6,000 delegates from his Rift Valley backyard, followed by 1,000 from Bungoma and Trans Nzoia and another 1,000 from Samburu and Turkana counties.
Yesterday the DP welcomed 1,000 Kakamega delegates, a day after almost as many came from Kisii region. Several private delegations have visited.
Before delegates came calling, the DP bought about Sh3 million goats for the feasts from the famous Kimalel goat auction in Baringo.
Sources privy to entertainment deatils said each 'ordinary' delegate got Sh3,000-Sh5,000 "as bread and milk for their families.”
Delegation leaders — governors, senators, MPs, MCAs and prominent figures — merited more.
They get Sh50,000-Sh100,000, depending on their status.
On Thursday some Kisii delegates were openly showing and boasting about their gifts outside Eldoret's Hotel Sirikwa. A political activist escorted by security officers carried heavy bags to a vehicle used by prominent Kisii politicians.
“This is a total waste when even dispensaries next to his home don't have facilities for patients. It’s unreasonable and we demand to know the source of the funds," ODM chairman in Uasin Gishu county David Songok said.
"No matter how many delegations Ruto wines and dines and treats, rejection of the Jubilee government is growing," he said.
Governor Jackson Mandago is among those supporting the meetings.
“We discussed many things, including farming, tourism, trade and strengthening devolution. It’s not just politics, though we agreed the best way forward is for everyone to join JP,” Mandago said.
Cord leader Raila Odinga and allies call for a lifestyle audit of the DP to determine the source of money spent on fundraisers and political meetings to “buy support for jubilee”.
“What kind of hustler spends that kind of money?" Senator Anyang Nyong’o asked.
Rift Valley Kanu officials led by Paul Kibet and Jonathan Bii have protested against the meetings.
“Farmers suffer low pay at NCPB for maize, yet nearby someone is busy dishing out money to buy political support,” Kibet said.
Sources said at least four governors individually supported the mass meetings with cash from undisclosed resources.
Ruto will host delegations from Busia, Mt Elgon, Vihiga, Nyanza and Nakuru, before moving to Nairobi, Central, Eastern, Northeastern and Coast regions ahead of the JP launch in March.
At a hotel in Eldoret, a Kisii MP from Kitutu went on a drinking spree and was heard shouting the run-up to next year's polls would be the harvest of a lifetime.
“There's no need to hurry back to Kisii since we have the money. We can spend part here and take the balance home. After all, the political harvest has just started," the MP said.
Another Kisii politician said the wads of bills are timely since "pockets are torn from carrying coins.