Drama as youth who attended State House empowerment programme now claim they were duped

A group of youth from Jacaranda in Embakasi who attended last Saturday’s State House empowerment event claim they never received the promised motorbikes and other items.

They say they now fear for their lives after posting a video urging President William Ruto to explain what happened.

They call the programme a sham and demand anyone with the motorbikes and ownership papers to come forward.

Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has dismissed the claims, saying only a few complaints have emerged out of more than ten thousand attendees.

Dickens Kamau Odhiambo, known as Kamau wa Kisumu, says his life is in danger after a viral video in which he told Bunge la Mwananchi in Jacaranda, Kayole, that he was deceived and never got the motorbike promised to him during a State House empowerment event led by the President.

"Seneta Karen Nyamu ndiye alituweka kwenye orodha… Tulifika huko saa 10 alfajiri, tukapewa mchele na minced meat," he said.

Odhiambo says he was photographed with a motorbike, then: “Nikaambiwa nitoke nje ya Gate D. Hapo nikakutana na walinzi wa GSU wakaniambia nimeshatoa taarifa zangu, niende nyumbani."

When he asked how the motorcycle would reach him, matters took a turn.

"Nikawauliza watajuaje nyumbani kwangu? Wakasema watatumia Truecaller. Nilipouliza zaidi, wakanifukuza," Odhiambo said, claiming that his life is now in danger.

"Wananipigia hata kwa private number, wananambia mambo ni mawili—nirekodi video niseme nilipata pikipiki, au niseme sikuenda Ikulu. Nimekataa," he noted.

Collins Otwala says his group was also turned away empty-handed: "Sisi tulikuwa 50, tukateuliwa 10. Proposal yetu ilikuwa kupata vifaa vya media, lakini tukaambiwa twende nyumbani. Hata wale wa boda hawakupata. Ndiyo tukasema hatutanyamaza."

The youth say the programme is a scam, with Odhiambo adding: "Mimi niko tayari waniuue, lakini sitakubali kudanganya. Hawakunipea pikipiki. Na kama wanataka kuniua, waniue."

They also allege a Friday meeting at Jacaranda was staged to cool the backlash by faking the issuance of motorbikes to other youths.

Senator Karen Nyamu has however denied any wrongdoing: “Mimi mwenyewe nilikuwa na a number of groups na sitasema ni ngapi…huyo kijana anadanganya na kama ni ukweli ni mtu mmoja au wawili pekee wanalalamika. Ni kama watu wamelipwa kutarnish jina ya empowerment…one or two people si watu wa kuskizwa in an event attended by more than 10,000 people."

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi had indicated that the delays were largely as a result of the formalisation of the ownership process.