Why I rejected President Uhuru’s gift- poor woman opens up

A poor woman who rejected a gift from President Uhuru Kenyatta has opened up to reeal reasons behind her courageous decision.

The woman’s son performed a thrilling poem for President Kenyatta who decided to educate him and build his mother a house..

The presentation earned him and his mother Damaris Wambui an invitation to Statehouse where he was rewarded with a scholarship and promised a home.

While the President has religiously paid for Ngaruiya’s school fees who was then a class seven pupil and now in Form Four, the promise for a home has been controversial with his mother, Damaris Wambui recently rejecting the house.

That is the wrong house

“That is not the gift the President meant for my son and I. It has cracks and looks more of a semi-permanent house. It was occupied before by a disabled person and was only refurbished,” Wambui told the press last week.

Implored not to disappoint president

“The county commissioner offered me Sh50,000. I rejected the money because I thought it was a trap that would end up costing me the house. He thereafter barred me from visiting his office,” Wanjiru said.

Commissioner defends self

However, Nkanatha who has since been transferred to Kajiado County in the same capacity explained that the money had originated from statehouse for Wambui’s upkeep pending completion of the house.

“The money was meant for her to rent a better house and upkeep during the construction of her new home. I reported back to Statehouse how she had reacted to the money,” said Nkanatha.

Lives in poverty

Since then, Wambui and her son have continued to live in a single room mud-walled house with her son for which she pays Sh1,200 rent every month. She survives by doing laundry, knitting sweaters and farm jobs in the neighbourhood.

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