By FELIX OLICK
Eldoret North MP William Ruto’s Sh100,000 a plate dinner raised Sh41 million.
Officials of the United Republican Party (URP) had targeted Sh40 million from the funds drive meant to support Ruto’s presidential bid.
The MP becomes the second presidential contender after Prime Minister Raila Odinga to hold such dinner to raise funds. A similar dinner organised by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka will be held on Thursday next week.
Speaking after the funds drive on Wednesday night at Laico Regency Hotel in Nairobi, Ruto said URP will abide by the Elections Act and the Political Parties Act in respect of party funding.
“In the past political parties were funded by individuals with vested interest. The law has now made it mandatory that political parties state their sources of funding,” he said.
The URP flag bearer maintained the presidential contest would be between those who have new ideas and can address youth problems, unemployment and food insecurity in the country against those who cannot.
“The 2013 contest is already defined. It is as clear as day is from night. It will be a contest between those who will seek for relief food for the country against those who will offer seeds, fertiliser, machinery, and create food basket,” he said.
competitive bidding
The former Cabinet minister promised that if elected president, he would address insecurity and added that the situation in the country was driving away investors.
He said all security purchases should be subjected to competitive bidding to reduce costs and blamed single sourcing on inflated expenditure and substandard products.
“That is why we end up with a helicopter that ends up destroying the lives of Kenyans,” he said.
He blamed cattle rustling on inefficiency and ill equipped police force and said that such acts should not happen in the 21st century.
Meanwhile, Kalonzo’s Sh100,000 dinner that was scheduled for today was postponed as he will be travelling to Uganda to represent President Kibaki at the Great Lakes region Heads of State and Government Summit.
Wiper Ambassadors lobby group have organised the dinner in aid of the VP’s presidential bid.
