Deputy President William Ruto on Wednesday rejected a cash donation by Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata, saying it was little for a leader of his status. 

Kang’ata, who is eyeing the Murang’a gubernatorial seat in 2022, donated Sh40,000 during a fundraising event in Gatanga, where Ruto was the chief guest. Ruto however rejected the money, saying the senator should give an amount worthy of a person who is running for the county’s governorship in next year’s election.

The deputy president insisted that a gubernatorial candidate should donate at least Sh100,000, and asked senator Kang’ata to add Sh60,000 to his initial contribution, to which the Senator obliged.

“Unataka governor? Sh40,000 haitoshi governor. Enda ulete hiyo ingine. Sh40,000 haiwezi governor. Tafuta pesa ama namna gani? Si wewe ndio umeamua hiyo maneno?” Ruto posed.

He then joked that he could lend Senator Kang’ata the balance of Sh60,000 if he was running short.

“Ama kama umeishiwa naweza kuongeza wewe alafu nikudai mbele. Si ni namna hiyo. Sawa pigieni mheshimiwa makofi ametoa elfu mia moja,” Ruto said.

The donated money went towards the Wakili Edward Muriu Pesa Mfukoni Bursary Fund, a Sh100 million kitty aimed at supporting 10,000 disadvantaged learners in Gatanga Constituency.