January 10, 2025

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How MKU Founder Simon Gicharu, Macharia outdo themselves at Raila fundraiser

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Details have emerged of how influential business men and oligarchs based in Kenya’s capital Nairobi raised over Ksh. 1 billion on Friday last week towards a campaign fundraiser of Azimio la Umoja one Kenya alliance presidential candidate Raila Odinga.

The fundraiser was held at the prestigious Safari Park Hotel where the rich and influential dine and wine. The place also hosts Kenya’s National prayer day that is headlined by regional presidents.

On Friday, media mogul S.K Macharia is said to have given a personal contribution of Ksh. 300 million followed by educationist and billionaire business Simon Gicharu who gave a personal contribution of Ksh.240 million. Mount Kenya University that has regional presence in Kenya, Rwanda and collaborative partnerships in Uganda.

“It was a well-attended event. Most contributors never wanted to be identified but what I know is that S.K Macharia gave a personal contribution of Ksh. 30O million and Mr. Gicharu through a proxy sent 240 million towards funding Odinga’s campaigns,” a source who attended the dinner where a buffet per individual was retailing between Ksh 500,000 to 1 million told this publication.

Media Mogul SK Macharia contributed Kshs. 300 million

Macharia has been a staunch supporter of Odinga in previous elections where he has vied but lost with Gicharu previously supporting Kenya’s incumbent president Uhuru Kenyatta.

Gicharu’s change of heart to fund Odinga, insiders say is based on the fact that Kenyatta has already fallen out with his deputy president William Ruto and his funding is seen as a loyalty to Kenyatta who is his closet friend.

Kenya heads to the poll early next month and business people are known to align themselves with the frontrunners to secure lucrative deals in the new governments.

Gicharu fell out with Ruto a few years ago after ascending to power where bad politics and tender wars saw him ejected from Geothermal Development Corporation by Ruto proxies.

Uhuru would later appoint him to Rural Electrification Authority as chairman.

Story credit :https://www.vanguardnews.ug/gicharu-macharia-outdo-themselves-at-raila-fundraiser/