Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has told residents of the Mt. Kenya region to freely accept money from politicians during the campaign period—but warned them not to let it influence their vote on election day.
Speaking at a Jubilee Party delegates’ meeting in Kiambu on Monday, May 25, Kenyatta addressed the crowd in Kikuyu, delivering some of his most direct and provocative remarks yet ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“They will come with money. Eat the money because it is your cash. The money will be yours. What would be the problem if you take it? Eat the money and ask them to come back again another time.”
— Uhuru Kenyatta, Kiambu, May 25, 2026
Vote With Your Conscience, Not Your Stomach
While encouraging residents to take campaign handouts, Kenyatta was emphatic that the ballot box must remain independent of financial inducements. He framed the 2027 election as a chance for Kenyans to reclaim their economic future — not to reward those who have failed them.
“But remember on voting day, you know what needs to be done. The voting day will be a time to change the country and livelihoods and the campaign period will be a time to go home with meat and to be well fed.”
— Uhuru Kenyatta, Kiambu, May 25, 2026
Sharp Criticism of Mt Kenya MPs
Kenyatta reserved particularly sharp words for MPs from the Mt Kenya region, accusing them of abandoning their constituents’ interests to serve another political figure’s agenda — a barely veiled reference to President Ruto.
“Have you ever heard them speak about things that help you, things that touch you? They just sing tunes of another person because they have been given something and it is in their pockets.”
— Uhuru Kenyatta, Kiambu, May 25, 2026
The former president urged residents to reject leaders who fail to champion their welfare during difficult economic times, closing with a direct challenge:
“Ask yourselves if that is the road you will take again and do not say I did not tell you. Reject leaders who do not care about you.”
— Uhuru Kenyatta, Kiambu, May 25, 2026
Political Significance
The remarks represent Kenyatta’s most explicit anti-Ruto message to date, moving beyond broad criticism of ethnic politics — which he also raised at the same meeting — to directly coaching Mt Kenya voters on how to handle campaign money while still voting against the incumbent.
With Jubilee Deputy Leader Dr. Fred Matiang’i positioned as the party’s 2027 presidential candidate, Monday’s address in Kiambu signals that Kenyatta intends to play an aggressive and personal role in dislodging Ruto from the Mt Kenya vote bloc that helped carry him to power in 2022.
Kenyatta ended his address by vowing to keep speaking out on issues affecting Kenyans despite pushback from his political opponents.
