Gachagua Spending Ksh900K On Student Parties Amidst Paybill

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is suddenly under fire after he gifted Ksh400,000 to Komarock Primary School on Tuesday, November 29 for a party after the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams.

He made a surprise visit to the school where he offered to sponsor Ksh300,000 for the students' bash while Ksh100,000 would go to the teachers to celebrate when the exams conclude.

"Can I organize a small bash the following day? After you are through with your exams, I will give the headteacher Ksh300,000 so that after the exams you can come and have a bash.

"I will give Ksh100,000 to the teachers so that they can also celebrate," Gachagua said much to the delight of the students.

DP Rigathi Gachagua interacting with KCPE candidates at Komarock Primary School, Embakasi Central, Nairobi on November 29, 2022. /TWITTER.RIGATHI GACHAGUA

It is worth it to note that the second in command had earlier in November donated Ksh500,000 to graduating medical students at Outspan Medical College in Nyeri for their welfare party.

This means that he has spent a total of Ksh900,000 on student parties alone!

Nonetheless, Kenyans were less than pleased at the actions of the Deputy President to spend on school parties hours after he unveiled an official paybill for donations to assist those who have been impacted by the ravaging drought in the country.

"Is this the same man sharing a paybill number?" Francis Muli posed.

"The money that people are meant to donate to the hungry and suffering, should the Ksh400,000 have helped more there? But the money is his, he can do as he pleases," Atundo Atundo weighed in.

A Nairobi resident who spoke to Viral Tea believed that Gachagua was sharing the appeal of donations to the wrong people.

"If you are poor you tend to be stingy even with yourself. So the person who is putting this comparison should know that Ksh400,000 cannot even give one person a decent house leave alone feed them for three months. Food is expensive and the suffering regions need more than that Ksh400,000 by far.

"Let those who want to contribute to contribute. Normalize not seeing negativity in everything. Even if you hate someone or a regime you don’t have to see everything as negative. A student's party is something to scream about on social media?" she posed.

When unveiling the paybill on Monday, November 28, Gachagua added that the paybill number is applicable to all mobile subscribers. Alternatively, Kenyans can contribute through banking means.

"Those wishing to donate to the appeal fund can do so via M-PESA PayBill 880990 USE YOUR  NAME as the account number or National Drought Mitigation Appeal Fund, Kenya Commercial Bank, Riverside Branch, ACC. NO. 1305486137," he added.

Gachagua thanked Kenyans and all their friends for their continued support towards the cause.

He on Friday, November 25 asked Kenyans to contribute a percentage of their salaries through a pay bill number to a government kitty to help their fellow countrypeople affected by the drought situation in the country.

He gave an example of how soldiers from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have offered to turn down their day's salary and instead contribute it to the kitty.

“We appeal to Kenyans of goodwill to contribute a percentage of their salaries to a pay bill number that will be established soon. Already, our men and women in the Kenya Defense Forces have offered to forego one day’s salary to contribute to the response kitty,” Gachagua stated.