Mystery over lobby behind Uhuru dinner at top city hotel
A group of business people behind a fundraising dinner in support of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election remains a mystery, with Jubilee officials remaining tight-lipped over the matter.
MPs and Jubilee Party officials interviewed on Monday declined to name the business people behind a lobby that has been registered as an NGO. The dinner is scheduled for Friday at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi.
The Friends of Jubilee Foundation has organised a reservation-only dinner to raise funds to support the President’s re-election.
However, no Jubilee MP or party officials was willing to give information on the foundation on Monday, raising questions about its membership and intentions.
MINT CASH
In the past, similar lobbys have been used to mint cash from gullible supporters of top politicians.
Gatundu North MP Moses Kuria told the Nation that there was only one foundation in Jubilee that was raising funds for President Kenyatta’s re-election but refused to mention names.
“You cannot name the names behind the foundation but they are friends of Jubilee Party and President Uhuru Kenyatta,” he said.
In a newspaper advert on Sunday, the foundation asked party members to attend the dinner and help raise funds, if the future of Kenya under President Kenyatta is to be guaranteed.
“The foundation invites you to support the future of Kenya at a dinner with President Uhuru. Come let us put our efforts together for our beloved nation,” said the advert.
On Monday, Kiharu MP Irungu Kang’ata said he was not aware of the Foundation.
‘HAVEN’T HEART ABOUT IT’
“I am in Jubilee and I do not know about the foundation neither have I heard about it; I have also not been informed by anybody about the existence of any such foundation,” said Mr Kang’ata.
Mara MP Kareke Mbiuki said he had heard about the foundation but does not know the people behind it.
Jubilee Party vice-chairman David Murathe said the foundation is legally registered with the NGOs Coordination Board.
“Friends of Jubilee Foundation is a registered NGO; other political parties have similar formations and nobody has ever raised a question about the faces behind it.”
State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu could not confirm or deny whether President Kenyatta will attend the dinner.
