Deputy President William Ruto during a past fundraiser.[Photo/plie.co.ke]
Deputy President William Ruto on Thursday surprised many by carrying Sh12 million in cash to a goat auction.
While presiding over the annual Kimalel goat auction in Baringo County, Ruto spent a Sh12 million for 1,000 goats.
According to Citizen Digital, Mr. Ruto walked into the auction with the millions in a brown suitcase and put it next to himself.
The farmers are said to have been confused on where the Sh12 million will come from until the DP pointed at the suitcase saying: “Chukua hiyo bag, kuna 12 million hapo ndani.” (Take that bag, there’s 12 million inside.)
The suitcase was safely taken to a nearby KCB stand where the money was processed,
Mr. Ruto said the Ksh.12 million was a collective contribution by President Uhuru Kenyatta, Nandi Hills MP Charles Keter, Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, his (DP Ruto) friends among others.
He said his friends wanted 1,000 goats for their Christmas celebrations.
Other leaders who bought goats at the Kimalel Cultural Fare and Goat Auction include Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, who parted with Ksh120,000 for ten goats; Labour Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie spent Ksh1.2 million for 100 goats; Nyandarua County Governor Francis Kimemia who bought 20 goats for Ksh240,000; Baringo Senator Gideon Moi who spent Ksh492,000 on 41 goats.
The annual goat auction, which had died down in the 1980s, was revived by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013.