Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi on NTV breakfast show where he clashed with Kibra MP Ken Okoth over claims by the MP that Jubilee was spending public resources to pay for campaign adverts. [Photo: ntv.co.ke]Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi clashed badly with Kibra MP Ken Okoth on live TV on Tuesday over what the latter claimed is Jubilee's use of public resources to pay for campaign advertisements.Okoth claimed that Jubilee was using money from public coffers to run the much publicised '#GoKDelivers' adverts on mass media to campaign for itself against election code of conduct."It is illegal for a government to showcase its achievements or those of a previous government through the mass media during an electioneering period as Jubilee is doing with impunity. All these advertisements are being paid for using public funds but nothing is being done about it," said Okoth on NTV breakfast show on Tuesday.However, this did not go down well with Wamatangi who interjected saying Jubilee is not short of resources like Nasa to be unable to run adverts on TV or wherever they desire."It is very reckless of Okoth to come here and make wild claims that Jubilee is using government resources to campaign without any empirical evidence. There is a big difference between government and Jubilee Party. If Nasa cannot be able to pay for adverts, then that is their own problem, not Jubilee's," said Wamatangi.
At the same time, Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa hit out at Okoth asking him to provide evidence that the government was using public resources on the adverts.
According to the two politicians, adverts put up on mainstream media highlighting achievements made by the government of the day have not been financed by public resources.
“The law talks about spending public resources. The distinction we should be drawing is, is it government drawing public resources to advertise or is it Jubilee [Party]?” said Ichung’wa at NTV on Tuesday.
He noted the law does not prohibit any political party from showcasing its achievements.
“Jubilee like NASA has every right to advertise has every right to advertise in print, on electronic or alternate media their achievements.”
The back and forth between the two legislators went on turning the talk show to a shouting match between the two with the host unable to contain them. It took the intervention of other panellists in the show to cool down the duo's tempers after which the debate went on.