By Anderson Ojwang
Politics is not a matter of life and death. At times, the two top presidential contenders, President William Ruto and his main challenger, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, have engaged in comic relief banter.
President Ruto, while at the Coast, started the banter by calling Sifuna Mr Empty and a broke man who has no money to run a presidential campaign and is relying on money from Mama Mboga.
He said that after Mama Mboga had collected money and donated it to Sifuna, he would, in turn, use the collection to drink high-end alcohol such as “Jack I do not” and “Johny Natembeya”, and the table would turn green.
Sifuna, in response, asked his supporters to continue contributing to his till number as the weekend approaches.
“Today is Friday (jam Eni leo ni Friday, tumeni ten bob hapo to shike ma Johny Walker tupige sherehe hi weekend tukipanga chama yetu) (today is Friday; kindly send 10 bob so that we can go out as we plan about our party),” he said.
Ruto extended the jibe, saying that while Sifuna and his crew were in Nairobi, they drank expensively, but when they went to the villages, they begged from Mama Mboga.
“When they are in Nairobi, they drink expensive alcohol with two names. I do not know, wakina Johhny Walker and others. They are dangerous, my people,” he warned.
Sifuna said there was not a single day when Ruto did not mention his name and promised to take him on.
“Every single day when Ruto wakes up, he calls me names, and I wonder why. Every day when he wakes up, he calls us names. Leo he calls Mr Sifuna Mr Empty; the next day he calls me exorcist. This is because he knows his days are numbered,” he said.
Ruto criticised Sifuna for asking about the contract agreement between the Kenyan Government and entrepreneur Aliko Dangote over the Lamu Oil Refinery.
“If you hear Mr Empty of shiny things. He was asking about the agreement with Dangote over Lamu Oil Refinery,” he said.
Ruto warned Mama Mboga and traders to be wary of Sifuna and his team so that they would not be conned out of their hard-earned cash.
“I want to warn Mama Mboga and traders doing business here: be wary of conmen who will come to ask for your money. They will come carrying baskets, asking you to donate to them because they want to be president of Kenya.
“I want to tell you that those people are conmen. They are exorcists. Do not agree, you Mama Mboga, to fundraise for him,” he said.
Ruto told his audience that Sifuna and his team were dangerous and that they should keep their distance.
“When they are in Nairobi, they drink alcohol with two names. They are dangerous. When they come here, they pretend to be poor,” he said.
Sifuna hit back, saying Ruto was out to destroy and dent his political image, but he remained unbowed and focused on the ball.
“He is destroying me because today is the weekend, and the Mama Mboga and traders donate on their own volition.
“They have decided to donate money to me. These mothers have not directed me on the usage of the money,” he said.
Sifuna said the donors had not specified how the funds should be used and wondered what was irking Ruto about the donations.
“They have not said the money is for billboards. I want Mama Mboga to know it is the weekend. The money is theirs, and you cannot dictate to them how and on what to use their money,” he said.
He said the positive gesture by Mama Mboga and traders had influenced his decision to run for the presidency and that it was a humbling moment.
“It is a choice people have made, and we have been very humbled to see Mama Mboga in the market and struggling people supporting me.
“It was the most humbling thing. When that thing happened for the first time at Kiminini market, when I saw those mamas bringing me the 50 bob, that is when the reality dawned on me that there can be no going back,” he said.
Sifuna told off Ruto, saying he had enough money to spend and could not misuse the donations from Mama Mboga.
“He thinks I don’t have money for Johnny Walker. I have money for Johnny Walker, but those mamas giving me money is a special moment. I almost shed tears,” he said.
Sifuna said the donations were safely kept and served as a constant reminder of the debt he owed Mama Mboga and Kenyans.
“That money, I have kept all of it. There is a reason I have kept it. I have kept it to remind myself who I am doing this for.
“I have never used even a cent. The bucket is now full. It is a serious connection with the voters.
“You can tell those 50 shillings are from that market. You know what 50 bob from the market looks like.
“I have kept the money and will show you,” he said.
Sifuna said he would carry the basket to State House as a constant reminder of the covenant with the people.
“I will carry that basket to State House as a reminder of the promises to the people of Kenya after they have elected me in 2027,” he said.
