‘Helicopters will not change your life,’ Khalwale tells Didmus Barasa on wealth display

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has criticised Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa and other politicians for their public display of wealth as Kenyans struggle with the biting cost of living.

During Wednesday’s plenary sitting at the Senate, Khalwale said politicians’ public display of opulence is among the issues angering Kenyans amid the ongoing anti-government protests.

“Hon. 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 told 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 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 an interview with the media at State House Nairobi.

Senator Khalwale to MP Didmus Barasa: Take it easy those helicopters will not change your life pic.twitter.com/jonGM2agm9