The daughter of former Mount Elgon MP John Serut, Chemoss Serut on Thursday touched a live wire when a tweet she had shared on Tuesday requesting for help from Kenyans to offset his father’s enormous hospital bill, but it did not go down well with citizens.
In a reaction that portrays the discontentment Kenyans harbour with their leaders, Chemoss was reminded of her father’s privileged past, the perks he enjoyed while in the August House, and the litany of allegations surrounding the intermittent clashes in the constituency he once represented.
“Hey guys,” wrote Chemoss. “So a lot of you don’t know me but I’m here requesting your help today. My father’s name is John Serut and he’s been unwell for a while now. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in January of 2020. Since then, we’ve had medical bills totalling about 20 million. So far, we’ve handled this as a family but we’re now reaching out to you for help.”
She mourned about the high cost of healthcare in Kenya, saying that every time her father visits the hospital “the bill has been no less than Sh3 million.”
The appeal, genuine and sincere as it may have been, stirred a Twitterati Hornet’s Nest.
“Have y’all tried selling properties accumulated during his term?” asked P. Muoge. “If not, I’d suggest you do so.”
Reactions to the medical funds appeal flowed in thick and fast.
Some Kenyans on Twitter accused Serut of organizing and creating a humanitarian crisis in the region and its environs.
A Twitter user claimed that Serut was responsible for the death of his brothers, cousins and her family’s displacement from their home. The online user noted that instead of contributing money for his medication, he would ‘show him her middle figure’.
“I really hate to be insensitive about this but it crossed my TL and the name John Serut has brought a lot of dark memories in my life and I wish I could see your dad and show him the middle finger,” a Twitter user identified as I am Her said.
“In 2007 This John Serut killed 2 uncles of mine and 3 cousins because they refused to join his “group” of youths called “janjawit” whom he wanted to recruit for his own malicious reasons He took them huko forest and slit their throats in cold blood akipea vijana wa watu kiapo,” the user added.
Others claimed Serut’s illness was just a punishment for the crime he committed while still in power.
The comments follow accusations that Serut and his then political rival who is the current Mt. Elgon MP Fred Kapondi were allegedly the promoters of the land disputes that rocked the region.
Serut represented the Mt Elgon constituency in 2002 (KANU), and again in 2017 (Independent), after when he lost to his political nemesis Fred Kapondi of Jubilee. He is rumoured to be planning a comeback in 2022.
