Igembe MP Paul Mwirigi threatens to return car gifted by President Kenyatta
Igembe Member of Parliament Paul Mwirigi has justified his decision to back Deputy President William Ruto over President Uhuru Kenyatta, who gave him a car after he won the seat in 2017.
Kenyatta bought Mwirigi a Toyota Prado car, which was presented to the MP at the Sagana State Lodge.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Mwirigi said he will not be intimidated by President Uhuru’s allies on the pretext that the Head of State bought him a car.
“First and foremost, let me thank His Excellency the President for gifting me a car in the year 2017.
I am much humbled now as I was then. Secondly, I wish to appreciate the President for gifting me wholeheartedly without expecting anything in return,” said Mwirigi.
His sentiments follow a statement by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya who called him out for showing a leaning towards Ruto despite the President having shown him a kind gesture.
“You don’t insult an elder who addresses you as his son and bought your first car out of love. You should reciprocate by supporting him and telling the people the good things he has done for them,” stated Munya.
The lawmaker noted that if Munya was speaking on behalf of the Head of State then he will have no option than to return the car as his loyalty cannot be bought by the gift.
“Meanwhile, if at all CS Munya is speaking for the President, (since he as done this repeatedly in different occasions), I may, for the sake of my peace of mind and independence consider returning the gift. I will not bear the blackmail by the CS anymore,” Mwirigi noted.
The 28-year-old shot to prominence when he won the seat as an independent candidate after campaigning for months on a bicycle, beating Jubilee Party’s candidate Rufus Miriti who came second.
