‘Maintaining 10 wives, 25 concubines more expensive than helicopter’: Didmus Barasa claps back at Khalwale

Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa has fired back at Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale over criticism for his alleged his display of wealth and opulence.

Taking to social media hours after the Senator called him out for public display of a flashy lifestyle, Barasa in a bare-knuckle rejoinder slammed Khalwale saying he is not in a position to afford a similar lifestyle due to his polygamous nature.

The outspoken Kimilili MP cited what he intimated to be Khalwale’s assets including a Nissan Patrol vehicle model and ownership of 35 houses, saying these are the reasons why he cannot afford to own a chopper.

Barasa, in his defence, asserted that contrary to the Senator's choice of being polygamous, he has remained monogamous, which enables him to free up more cash for such eccentricities as a helicopter. 

“Senator Boni Khalwale, I have heard you mention me in the Senate proceedings regarding my purchase of a helicopter. Indeed, this is true. I made a choice between having one wife, a helicopter and trusting in God. In contrast, you chose a Nissan Patrol, ten wives, over twenty-five concubines, fathered forty-six known children, and maintained 35 houses for hood rats across the country,” Barasa wrote in a statement on X.

The MP rubbished the Senator’s concerns terming them “misleading,” saying the latter is in no position to lecture him on matters of wealth since being polygamous is presumably more expensive than owning a helicopter.

“Maintaining such a large family and numerous homes is exponentially more expensive than having one wife, one helicopter, and three children. You're just an old superficial and misleading fela,” stated Barasa.

During Wednesday’s Senate proceedings, Khalwale criticised Barasa and other politicians for their public display of wealth as Kenyans struggle with the biting cost of living, saying the move was among the issues angering Kenyans amid the ongoing anti-government protests.

“Didmus Barasa, take it easy; helicopters will not change your life,” Khalwale told the MP, who was recently reported to have acquired a multi-million-shilling chopper that he uses to attend public functions.

Khalwale went on to ask President William Ruto to investigate the flashy lifestyles of his government's officials, even as he pledges austerity for his government in the wake of the Finance Bill, 2024’s scrapping.

“The President should ask himself how the membership of an MP to a committee in Parliament can be the basis for him to be able to afford some of the things that are not affordable,” said the Senator.

President Ruto on Sunday promised to address the opulence and extravagance displayed by some state officers, particularly Cabinet Secretaries and MPs.

"I promise you, watch this space. Going forward you will see changes because we must do something about opulence and extravagance. We are going to take measures that will put us in the right place," Ruto said in a media roundtable interview at State House in Nairobi.