A political firestorm has erupted following revelations that Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua diverted Sh7 million meant for hand-outs to a Kamba delegation. The money, reportedly given directly by President William Ruto during a high-stakes State House visit, was to be shared among over 2,000 delegates from Ukambani. But when the cash ran dry with hundreds yet to receive anything, all eyes turned to Mutua. Inside sources allege that Mutua quietly instructed his close allies to pocket a quarter of the funds—roughly Sh7 million—and stash it in his car. The scandal has left the Ukambani political landscape in shambles. The Alfred Mutua scandal has laid bare the greed, mistrust, and political chaos within Ruto’s inner circle in Ukambani. What was meant to be a goodwill gesture turned into a public relations disaster. [Photo: Courtesy] Alfred Mutua Scandal Exposes Greed in President Ruto's Inner Circle The Alfred Mutua scandal centers around a now-infamous State House meeting where Sh30 million was allocated to appease the politically reluctant Kamba region. President Ruto, seeking to gain ground in opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s backyard, had ordered the funds be distributed evenly among attendees—Sh50,000 for elected leaders and Sh10,000 for the rest.
However, chaos broke out mid-distribution. Hundreds of delegates were left empty-handed after the cash mysteriously ran out. It later emerged that Mutua’s henchmen, strategically positioned around the venue, had quietly diverted a large chunk of the money to his parked car. The plan was simple—intercept, skim, disappear.
The deception came to light when Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka, frustrated by the unfolding confusion, sought clarification from State House comptroller Katoo Metito. Metito denied any extra allocation authority, forcing Musyoka to approach the president directly.
Ruto reportedly erupted in anger, labeling the Kamba event “the most expensive yet least beneficial” of his presidency. Despite his rage, Ruto reluctantly released an additional Sh7 million to salvage the embarrassment.
But even with the top-up, the atmosphere had already turned sour. Whispers of theft swirled around the compound, with multiple sources blaming Mutua. Delegates were livid. MCAs were caught double-dipping in the Sh10,000 line. The food, catered by Sarova Stanley, did little to cool the tempers. Mutua and Kawaya Clash Deepens Political Crisis in Ukambani The Alfred Mutua scandal has exposed deep cracks within the Kenya Kwanza alliance in Ukambani. Mutua and Vincent Musyoka Kawaya, once expected to lead the president’s agenda in the region, are now locked in a bitter blame game.
Two scheduled tours by President Ruto to Ukambani were quietly canceled. The official explanation was poor mobilization. Behind the scenes, insiders paint a picture of sabotage and incompetence.
Kawaya accuses Mutua of organizing poorly attended meetings, citing his arrogance and inability to rally support. Mutua, on the other hand, claims Kawaya—being the highest-ranking party official in the region—was supposed to take charge. Neither is willing to accept responsibility.
But analysts believe both are deflecting. They say the two leaders were unwilling to spend their own money to rally support for Ruto. In contrast, other regions like Mt. Kenya and Nyanza saw hundreds of millions poured into mobilization, with local leaders such as CS John Mbadi and DP Kindiki playing key roles.
Mutua, still bitter about his demotion from Foreign Affairs to Labour—considered a “hardship post”—has shown little enthusiasm. Kawaya, stripped of his Energy Committee chairmanship, has also withdrawn. Their reluctance to invest politically in the president’s visit, say observers, is at the heart of the problem. Alfred Mutua 7 Million Scandal Deepens Ukambani Rift and Fuels Distrust Among Local Leaders The Alfred Mutua scandal also reveals a deeper issue—President Ruto’s dwindling support in Ukambani. Intelligence reports shared with State House warned that even if money was spent, locals would take it but skip the rallies. The fear of public embarrassment and heckling led to the tour’s quiet cancellation.
In Kitui, where political crowds are notoriously vocal, the risk of Ruto being booed was high. Even in Embu, a supposedly safer stop, the president faced jeers over unfulfilled water project promises.
What’s worse, some MPs in Ukambani reportedly plotted ways to avoid the president entirely. One considered faking illness. Another thought of staging a funeral. The message is clear—standing beside Ruto in Ukambani is political suicide.
Meanwhile, infighting continues. Mutua and Kawaya are no longer on speaking terms. The two are also clashing with local MPs who accuse Kawaya of using his past position to redirect electricity projects to his Mwala constituency.
The ground is simply not ready. The president knows it. His lieutenants in the region are unwilling to risk their political lives or personal finances. And with the Alfred Mutua scandal hanging over them, the credibility of Ruto’s outreach to the Kamba nation lies in ruins.