Kirinyaga Member of Parliament Njeri Maina has revealed that President William Ruto provided her with KSh 500,000 every Monday following her victory in the 2022 UDA nominations. In an interview on the Iko Nini podcast, Maina disclosed that the weekly disbursements were handled through an individual named Rono and were used to fund ground campaigns and campaign materials. Maina, a high court advocate, made history as the youngest MP ever elected in Central Province at age 28.
Maina described her entry into politics as unplanned, stating that she printed a poster in 2021 to unsettle a rival politician at the request of someone who had a feud with that individual. The poster went viral on Facebook, attracting significant public attention, prompting her to subsequently join politics in July 2021. She joined UDA by offering pro bono legal services to party members and bloggers who had been arrested. During the nominations process, she received support from Senator Kamau Murango and an MP named Mathenge.
Maina said she had little money at the time but relied on family support and two close friends before securing the nominations. After winning the UDA nominations, Maina revealed that President William Ruto started financially supporting her, saying "I told him I had no money and asked him to hold my hand." The financial backing was crucial in her campaign, enabling her to mobilize votes and fund her campaign activities.
Despite the financial backing she received, Maina said her support for the president began to erode well before the 2024 Finance Bill crisis. She cited earlier disagreements over the handling of the Judiciary and issues that conflicted with her personal principles, describing a gradual drift away from Ruto's camp. Maina's change of heart was evident in her voting against the 2024 Finance Bill, approximately two months after she had already begun distancing herself from the administration.
The decisive break for Maina came when she voted against the 2024 Finance Bill, citing the deaths of young people during protests as a line she was not willing to cross. "Everything else we would have overlooked. But then when it came to actually overseeing a regime that killed young people, I think for me that is where I drew the line," Maina said. This marked a significant turning point in her relationship with Ruto's administration.
Maina is currently a staunch supporter of the Democracy for the Citizens Party and has positioned herself as a vocal critic of Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election. She encourages residents to arrest individuals distributing items falsely linked to her office or that of Senator Murango. Maina urged residents to verify the distributors' identities and hand suspects over to the police.
In related news, a viral video showed women's underwear bearing NGAAF markings, prompting Maina and Murango's lawyers to deny any involvement. Murango's legal representatives said he neither procured nor distributed the items and had not authorised the use of his name or the branding. Maina's office has distanced itself from the incident, emphasizing the need for vigilance against impostors.
Key points
- President William Ruto provided Njeri Maina with KSh 500,000 weekly for campaigns after her 2022 UDA nominations victory.
- Maina cited the deaths of young people during protests as the reason for her decisive break with Ruto's administration.
- Maina is currently a vocal critic of Ruto and a supporter of the Democracy for the Citizens Party ahead of the 2027 General Election.
