President Ruto defends State House delegations amid mounting criticism

President William Ruto has dismissed accusations that he has degraded the dignity of State House by hosting campaign rallies on the grounds through a constant flow of delegations.

The President says he has instead elevated the stature of Kenyans by opening the gates of State House for visiting delegations.

Ruto has hosted about 10 delegations of grassroots leaders including professionals and religious leaders, with the recent meeting of 10,000 teachers at State House Nairobi reportedly gobbling up about Ksh.100 million.

Earlier Friday, the President met a team of vulnerable members of the community and Social Health Authority (SHA) officials at State House Nairobi, during the launch of the SHA sponsorship programme.

During this event, President Ruto fired at those criticizing his State House meetings.

“Kuna wengi wanalalamika ya kwamba nimefungua makao haya yakawa makao ya watu rejareja…ati hapa panatakikana ati mahali ya watu wakubwa wakubwa, mabalozi…wale  wanalalamika eti nimeshusha heshima ya State House…mimi nataka niwaambie sijashusha heshima ya State House, nimeinua heshima ya Wakenya,” he said.

The President has hosted a record 10 meetings in one month with regional caucuses, including county leaderships, professionals and grassroots leaders.

The recent Walimu na Rais forum brought together 10,000 teachers on the day the President was marking a third anniversary in office, with the meeting having political undertones.

The teachers’ delegation reportedly blew away over Ksh.100 million in a day.

A day earlier, the President had also hosted another group of grassroots leaders from Murang’a County, and the larger Gusii region.

The President has also met two other groups from Meru and Murang’a counties within this same month.

He further met one of the biggest delegations in August, convening 1.100 Nairobi business groups with the empowerment giveaways totaling over Ksh.500 million.

The delegations have now raised concerns on the cost of keeping the teams coming and whether or not the President has been using the platforms for early campaigns.

The State House delegations have also continued to irk opposition leaders, who say the House on the Hill has become an epicenterfor voter bribery.