Meru County senatorial aspirant Timothy Kithinji has launched a sharp attack on President William Ruto over remarks he made on Thursday during the launch of the Nyota programme at Kinoru Stadium, accusing the Head of State of making grand promises without clear budgetary backing and using cash handouts as a political tool.
Speaking on Friday at Nthimbiri during a funeral service, Kithinji questioned the feasibility of several development pledges made by the President, including the construction of the Nithi Bridge and the elevation of Meru town to city status.
Meru county Senatorial aspirant Timothy Kithinji (in hat) alongside Muthaura Njogu in Nthimbiri. Photo by Brian Gitonga
He argued that while the promises sounded attractive to residents, the government has failed to explain where the money to implement them would come from.
“We heard the President make many promises, including the construction of the Nithi Bridge and granting Meru town city status, but we want him to tell us whether there is a budget to implement these promises,” said Kithinji.
Kithinji said Meru residents were increasingly becoming cautious of political statements that do not align with concrete financial plans, noting that many past pledges have stalled due to lack of funding.
He claimed that without clear budgetary allocations, such announcements risk remaining mere campaign rhetoric rather than deliverable development projects.
The senatorial aspirant also took issue with the President’s directive requiring all children to report back to school, saying the order failed to address the harsh economic realities facing many families.
Meru county Senatorial aspirant Timothy Kithinji in Nthimbiri. Photo by Brian Gitonga
He noted that poverty and hunger remained major obstacles to education, especially in rural areas where parents struggle to provide basic needs.
“The government should speak about where the money to take those children to school will come from. Despite this, the government should also be speaking about hunger because many of these children are not even able to have meals at home,” said Kithinji.
Kithinji argued that insisting on school attendance without addressing food insecurity and household income challenges places an unfair burden on parents.
He said the government should first stabilize the economy and support vulnerable families before issuing blanket directives that ignore conditions on the ground.
Turning to the Nyota program funds released to youth during the Kinoru Stadium event, Kithinji dismissed the initiative as ineffective, saying the real test would be whether beneficiaries would still have sustainable businesses months later.
He questioned the long-term impact of giving out money without structured follow-up, training or accountability mechanisms.
He urged the President to adopt development strategies similar to those implemented during the Kibaki administration, particularly programs that focused on skills development, planning and structured financing.
Kithinji cited initiatives such as the National Youth Service, where young people were encouraged to develop business plans that could then be evaluated and funded.
Kithinji noted that simply giving cash handouts to youths without guidance or systems in place often leads to wastage and disappointment.
Meru county Senatorial aspirant Timothy Kithinji in the funeral of Julius Gitonga M’kuura in .Nthimbiri. Photo by Brian Gitonga
He said meaningful empowerment required investment in ideas, skills and mentorship rather than quick disbursement of funds meant to create temporary excitement.
The aspirant went further to accuse the President of using the Nyota program as a political tactic aimed at winning over Meru residents, whom he claimed were increasingly aligned to the “one-term” political movement.
He argued that the timing and manner of the cash distribution raised serious questions about the government’s intentions.
“What I saw the President do yesterday is political bribery to bribe Meru residents because Meru is a one-term county. Meru residents have already seen that this government doesn’t have any plans, and that is why you have seen Meru residents say no to agendas being propagated by this government,” said Kithinji.
Kithinji said the opposition’s criticism of the government should not be mistaken for hostility, clarifying that their concern lay with policies and actions they believe are slow, poorly planned and disconnected from the immediate needs of Kenyans.
He maintained that Meru residents require practical solutions that could improve livelihoods now, not in the distant future.
He also emphasized that the opposition will not join the current administration, dismissing calls for political unity if it meant supporting policies they considered harmful or ineffective.
Kithinji warned that those frustrated by the opposition’s stance should brace themselves until the next general election, insisting that his camp would remain firm.
