‘I’m annoyed’- Ruto’s ‘Mama Mboga’ denies reports UDA abandoned her after polls
Pauline Waithira, the 70-year-old woman who endorsed UDA leader William Ruto's presidential bid in last year's polls, has dismissed reports that the ruling party abandoned her after clinching power.
The Kiambu businesswoman popularly known by her nickname 'Mama Mboga' was quoted by a local daily on Monday, June 5, 2023, lamenting that Ruto, now President, used and dumped her, leaving her to languish in poverty.
But in a video shared by ICT Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dennis Itumbi on social media on Wednesday, June 7, Waithira accused the author of the article of engaging in a smear campaign against the Head of State and UDA honchos.
“That is nonsense and I don't want nonsense. Ruto has been my friend since 2013. I have loved him since then, people don’t know why I came to love Ruto,” Waithira is heard lamenting, adding that she is on good terms with the President.
“I am very much annoyed. Who told these people I have problems? My house has never been closed, my child has never been sent home and I can afford food because of Ruto,” she continued.
The visibly angry trader also disclosed that Ruto gifted her Ksh300,000 a day after she accompanied her to Bomas to present his nomination papers to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The publication had reported that Waithira, who sells avocados at Kang'angi market, was bitter after being used to market Ruto's 'hustler' agenda only to be abandoned after the much-fought-for victory.
"I don't know what you will write after this interview but don't forget to mention that I am very angry with politicians who used me for political gains during campaigns and have now abandoned me," Waithira was quoted as saying.
"I was used to illustrate how poor people will benefit from the Ruto government through bottom up but even after they won the presidential election, I was not even invited to Kasarani Stadium during the inauguration of President Ruto and his deputy. I spent the whole day crying at home, people were laughing at me.
"I have come to realise this tactic was to get the poor people to vote for Ruto en masse in the hope that things would get better."
Waithira now claims the said interview never happened.
