A row has emerged among elders from the Kikuyu community who were hosted by Deputy President William Ruto at his rural home in Sugoi, Uasin Gishu county last month.
This follows revelations that a section of the leaders unfairly shared the Sh8 million that was given as reimbursement by the DP, keeping the bulk of the money for themselves.
It is alleged that the organisers only shared less than Sh1 million of the amount that was to be shared among the 4,770 members of the delegation, resulting in a row.
This was confirmed by GEMA organising Secretary Paul Kinyanjui. He said that the culprits have since been stripped of their leadership posts.
"The elders called a meeting after realising what had happened and they decided to strip them of their leadership positions, which they gave themselves because there was no official routine followed in their election. That is how bad the situation is,” he stated on Tuesday.
Among the said beneficiaries is deputy chairman of the Kikuyu leaders living in Rift Valley Joseph Wainaina, who is suspected to have used the proceeds to buy a new car.
The vehicle was reportedly bought weeks after the meeting.
However, when contacted, Wainaina, also a prominent businessman in Eldoret, rubbished the claims, terming them the doing of those out to tarnish his good name.
He said that he personally contributed towards the course and gave Sh500,000 towards the transport needs of the delegation that attended the meeting.
“These are just plots by people to ruin my name. I did not steal any money. The deputy president gave us Sh8 million. I cannot deny that, as he said it in front of everyone. As the vice chair, the duty of distributing the money was not on me. Most of the money went to refunding people their transport money. I personally contributed Sh500,000 towards the transport needs, Senator gave over 20 buses, MP Kimani Ngunjiri gave about Sh1 million for the transport needs of the people from his constituency and North Rift Shuttle company gave us 30 vehicles,” he stated.