'Take your boreholes back to Canada!' Backlash as Mwingi Central MP Gideon Mulyungi threatens NGO

In a viral video clip, the lawmaker from the drought-hit area is seen demanding that the non-profit involve him before sinking boreholes in the constituency or immediately cease operations, pack up and leave.

Addressing an evening gathering while holding a microphone on a red carpet, Mulyungi addressed the Canadian charity directly, asserting that local development must strictly run through his political office and include community consultation.

"Lifewater Canada, I want to tell you: this is Mwingi Central in Kitui County, in Kenya. We do not like corruption. Lifewater Canada, we don't want corruption. You must involve the community, and you must involve the area Member of Parliament who is Gideon Mulyungi," he threatened, attracting a smattering of applause from the crowd. 

"And if you don't do that, you can take your boreholes back to Canada! Take your boreholes back to Canada! Washindwe, wasishindwe!?" 

Mulyungi went on the attack in Kamba, reiterating that any foreign donor operating without his explicit clearance should pack up their equipment and leave, questioning their motives for bypassing local political leadership and not economically involving the area residents.

"Do you want him to involve you or not? Once he comes back here, he has to work with you. I'll send him that clip... " he dared.

The footage triggered an immediate wave of public anger, with citizens accusing the MP of stalling critical, life-saving development projects over political gatekeeping and ego. 

Many argued that in such a drought-prone constituency, where clean water remains a severe challenge, politicians should welcome charitable initiatives rather than threaten them.

Online commentators questioned how many boreholes the MP’s own CDF allocation had delivered, noting that rejecting charitable aid harms ordinary citizens the most while protecting his image and office. 

An X user said: "I frequently assert that the majority of politicians do not seek change or wish for conditions to improve but rather favour maintaining the current state for their own advantage."

Someone else opined: "This is very inappropriate. If you, the MP, cannot look for partners, why start chasing them? Lifewater Canada, please come to Kitui rural. We will accommodate you. We need water, not useless politics."

Critics also pointed out that hostile political gatekeeping discourages international investors, charity organisations, and well-wishers from intervening in vulnerable communities whilst these politicians did little to solve these endemic issues anyway. 

"I’m starting to believe that many of the problems we face in almost every county are deliberately kept unresolved so that the common mwananchi remains dependent on politicians. There was a time when a certain tycoon wanted to put murram on our local road, but the authorities blocked the initiative. I was told the area MCA was behind it. Most politicians are truly wicked!" someone said on X. 

Others alleged that the MP's insistence on involvement was motivated by a desire to hijack donor projects for political branding ahead of future elections.

X user Njeri Gachage said, "What is hurting him most, he wanted to use the NGO projects for his own political mileage. He wants to brand his pictures, then deceive his constituents that he drilled it."

Lifewater Canada has yet to issue an official response to the MP's threats.