An image featuring Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi (left) and Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale (right) . IMAGE: Boni Khalwale | Oscar Sudi /Twitter
In Summary:
1) Senator Boni Khalwale criticizes MPs and Cabinet Secretaries for lavish donations at public fundraisers.
2) Khalwale urges the Senate to draft a law to curb such displays of opulence.
3) Oscar Sudi defends his donations, claiming they were collectively raised by the church and other contributors.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale took a firm stand on Wednesday against perceived extravagance and corruption within government ranks.
His pointed remarks have spotlighted the dubious sources of large donations made at public fundraising events, raising concerns about the integrity of political figures and the origins of their substantial contributions.
Senator Khalwale voiced his dismay at the lavish donations made by certain MPs and Cabinet Secretaries within the Kenya Kwanza government.
“I offended someone I didn’t name in Kakamega over the weekend regarding the issue of opulence. I questioned how an MP could donate Ksh 20 million at a harambee, which upset him greatly,” Khalwale stated.
His criticisms extended to another incident involving a government minister displaying a large sum of money.
“At another event, I saw a minister from this government carrying a large bag and announcing the millions it contained,” he recounted during Senate proceedings.
Khalwale called on the Senate to draft legislation to prevent such ostentatious displays, which have angered the public.
“If we don’t reject these actions, people like Murkomen will think they are giving us their own money. It’s not their money; those are proceeds of corruption,” Khalwale said, receiving cheers from the House.
This was the second time in a week that Khalwale targeted Oscar Sudi.
Over the weekend, Khalwale’s comments provoked a strong response from the Kapseret MP, who defended his integrity.
“How is it possible for you to speak such lies in broad daylight? Do you mean to say that you don’t believe that church members, when united, can raise even Ksh 50 million?” Sudi posed in a video on his social media accounts.
Sudi explained that the church had already raised over Ksh 10 million before the major fundraising event attended by various politicians.
“To Khalwale and all those criticizing me, the Ksh 20 million was the total contribution amount. The church had already raised Ksh 14 million. The remaining amount was supplemented by me, my friends, and others,” Sudi stated.