President William Ruto, his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua and other politicians gifted vernacular artist Samuel Muchoki Ndirangu, better known as Samidoh, Ksh8.8 million during the launch of his new project, Samidoh Foundation.

Speaking during the Foundation’s Launch at Parklands Sports Club in Nairobi on Thursday, Gachagua lauded Samidoh for the project, which seeks to empower the boy child and give back to the less fortunate in society.

“I want to plead with our artists to be very careful. Do not allow yourselves to be misused and your functions to be hijacked by people of dubious character and bad history. They scare women away from your functions,” said the Deputy President during the launch of Samidoh Foundation on Thursday night at Parklands Sports Club Nairobi.

The charity non-governmental organization is owned by Kikuyu musician Muchoki Samidoh.

“Please do not be abused by people with questionable character. The people trying to use you now, you know what they did to our youth and what became of our children,” he told the artists.

The Deputy President stated that persons associated with the outlawed group are trying to return to the public through events organised by artists and hijacking the functions to address crowds. He asked artists to ensure their events are dignified by denying tainted people a platform to speak to the audience.

“They are trying to come back through you (artists) by hijacking the ceremonies.

Leaders and businessmen have started isolating those individuals. We will only appreciate and attend functions where there are women, youth, elders and there is dignified seating,” he said.

He was representing President William Ruto at the event. Recently, the Deputy President warned that the attempt to revive the Mungiki sect will be met with decisive action as he recalled that at its peak, the outlawed group was known for extortion of business persons, rapes and killings.

The Deputy President was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts Ababu Namwamba, Principal Secretaries Alex Wachira (Energy) and Eng John Mbugua (Transport) and over 10 Members of Parliament and Senators.