The group consisting of MPs and high-profile government officials are a constant feature in big money harambees characterised by high octane politics.
Harambees are one of the most effective ways of mobilising voters for the political elite.
Most of the fundraising is in aid of churches and schools.
Apart from the donations, the leaders always move in convoys of high-end fuel guzzlers.
For far flung areas, their preferred mode of transport is helicopters.
Hiring a helicopter costs about $2,500 per hour (Sh321,250), inclusive of fuel and the pilot’s pay.
For some leaders, it has been party after party, with delegations trooping in to collect cash every other day.
Coming when the country is facing hard economic times, the new wave has attracted a barrage of criticism from some quarters.
Some leaders have poked holes into the flamboyant lifestyle and demanded that they make public the source of their huge donations.
Within the ruling UDA party, some leaders are raising concerns of being undermined in their own constituencies by their moneyed colleagues.
Some of the youthful leaders who have been conducting big money harambees include Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, President Ruto’s personal assistant Farouk Kibet, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, Didmus Barasa of Kimilili and Roads Cabinet Secretary Kipuchumba Murkomen.
President William Ruto heavily exploited the harambee political strategy to popularise himself ahead of the 2022 polls.
Sudi has hosted several fundraising meetings for schools and churches especially in his Kapseret constituency and neighbouring Kesses constituency.
A review of his engagements shows he has been donating a minimum of Sh1 million and a maximum of Sh6 million in most of the fundraising meetings.
Sudi’s fundraising activities in the region have sparked a political row between him and some of the local leaders, who accuse him of using the huge sums of money at his disposal to undermine them.
Kesses MP Julius Ruto is among those who have raised concerns over Sudi’s huge donations in Kasses.
“It’s not bad to give but not in a way to demean other leaders. Having money should not be a reason to disrespect other people”, Ruto told the Star.
On March 10, Sudi, popularly known in the political circles as ‘Engineer’, donated Sh3 million at AIC Fellowship Annex in Ruto’s Kasses constituency.
The MP, who was the chief guest, donated the Sh3 million in cash while Nyoro, also a guest, donated Sh1 million towards the construction of the cathedral.
In the same fundraiser, Murkomen donated Sh1 million.
On March 24 the Kapseret MP was in Mumias East for church service where he donated Sh2 million.
On May 25, the lawmaker attended the ordination of Eldoret Diocese Catholic Auxiliary Bishop John Lelei where he donated a luxury high-end Prado to the man of cloth.
Last Sunday, the internet was abuzz with reactions at the sight of Sudi’s motorcade that mirrored that of the President.
The lawmaker was making his way to Holy Family Church Ngenyborokurio in Nandi county for a fundraiser.
The fundraisers have also irked DP Rigathi Gachagua, who accused the youthful leaders of splurging too much money at public meetings yet the source of the cash is questionable.
“Kenyans are suffering yet some of these young leaders with easy access to President William Ruto are busy splashing cash all over and displaying arrogance and disrespect,” Gachagua said when he visited then region two weeks ago.
Gachagua accused the same youthful and moneyed politicians of being used to undermine him.
Sudi has, however, defended himself at some of the harambees, arguing that his donations are as result of blessings from God due to his work to support churches and schools among other projects.
“It’s true that I have some money. I learnt the art of giving from President Ruto himself and I know there are blessings from God in return. Those who want to be mean should not envy those who give,” Sudi said.
He spoke at AIC Church Kapseret where he donated Sh6 million including contributions from other leaders like President Ruto and DP Gachagua.
Sudi has also argued that much of the money he gives out is from friends and well-wishers.
President Ruto’s long time aide Kibet has been pushing for improvement of facilitates in schools in the North Rift and better performance in national exams.
Since President Ruto rode to power, Farouk has been mobilising resources to support expansion of infrastructure in schools.
He has always expressed concern that performance of the institutions was declining over the years.
So far, Kibet has hosted fundraisers at Tulwo Girls School and Kurgung Boys High School in Nandi county and Metkei Girls in Elgeyo Marakwet county.
He also hosted education activities at Chepsaita Secondary School and at Tapsagoi Secondary among other institutions in the region.
On February 24, Farouk gave Sh1 million to Kurgung Boys High School in Nandi county.
In August last year, the President’s confidante gifted two buses to St Peter's Secondary School Kamasai in Nandi and AIC Ngenyilel Secondary School, Turbo, in Uasin Gishu county.
A 64-seater school bus goes for at least Sh7 million.
Kibet was doing fundraisers even before Ruto took over power.
He wants parents and counties to play a larger role in the management and equipment of schools and support the work being done by teachers.
The President’s aide says leaders and parents must be ready to sacrifice resources to support education.
Roads Cabinet Secretary Murkomen has also been making lavish donations.
At some of the fundraising meetings the donations have surprisingly the surpassed targets set by organisers.
So generous are the leaders that they attract more than 50 invitations to harambees every week but mostly they attend the events during weekends.
MP Didmus Barasa, who is eyeing the Bungoma gubernatorial seat, has been traversing the county in helicopters and making handsome donations at harambees.
