TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya

A recent school uniform donation by Ndia MP George Kariuki has sparked heated debate in Kirinyaga county.

The legislator, popularly known as GK, has been criticised for branding his name on the uniforms given to pupils in his constituency.

However, speaking to , the lawmaker, affiliated with President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA), strongly defended his actions.

He maintained the donation was not made using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) but was instead funded entirely from his personal resources.

"The uniforms I donated were bought using my own money, not CDF funds," he clarified.

Kariuki said he was moved to act after visiting a school in his constituency, where he had gone to commission a multipurpose hall and a new school bus.

He was reportedly disturbed by the state of some children’s clothing, which he described as tattered and unfit for learning.

Motivated by what he witnessed, Kariuki decided to buy new uniforms for the affected learners.

“When I visited the school, I found pupils wearing tattered clothes. It really touched me,” Kariuki explained.

However, his decision to embroider the uniforms with his name has drawn sharp criticism, with some accusing him of seeking political mileage.

Addressing the backlash over the branding, Kariuki said it was not unusual, arguing that branding donations is neither new nor unethical.

He pointed out that even international aid agencies routinely brand and label items they donate to communities.

“There is nothing wrong with branding a donation. Even global organisations like UNICEF, World Vision, and Plan International brand their donations,” he said.

He further dismissed the uproar as a coordinated smear campaign by political opponents.

According to him, the parents of the children who benefited have not lodged any complaints.

“This criticism is vague and politically motivated. The real beneficiaries have not complained about the branding,” he added.

The controversy has fed into a wider national debate on whether it is appropriate for public officials to personalise acts of charity, especially when done within their official capacity.

In 2022, a UDA aspirant in Kakamega attracted attention after using branded undergarments to woo voters ahead of the party primaries.

Gerald Joseph, who vied for the Butali/Chegulo Ward seat, distributed the items mainly to women in a bid to stand out from his rivals despite having limited campaign resources.

Gerald said he chose the unconventional strategy to market his candidacy in a memorable and cost-effective way.

Source: TUKO.co.ke