Youth claim they were duped in State House empowerment programme

A group of youth who attended last Saturday’s State House empowerment event are claiming they never received the promised motorbikes and other benefits.

The group says they now fear for their safety after releasing a video urging President William Ruto to explain what went wrong. Calling the programme a “sham,” they demanded that anyone who received the motorbikes and related documents step forward.

Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu dismissed the allegations, stating that only “one or two” complaints have been raised out of more than 10,000 attendees.

“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,” she said.

Among those speaking out is Dickens Kamau Odhiambo, popularly known as Kamau wa Kisumu, who says his life is now in danger after a viral video in which he told members of Bunge la Mwananchi in Jacaranda, Kayole, that he had been misled and never received the motorbike he was promised.

“Seneta Karen Nyamu ndiye alituweka kwenye orodha… Tulifika huko saa 10 alfajiri, tukapewa mchele na minced meat,” Odhiambo recounted.

He added that he was photographed with a motorcycle but was then escorted out through Gate D.

“Nikaambiwa nitoke nje ya Gate D. Hapo nikakutana na walinzi wa GSU wakaniambia nimeshatoa taarifa zangu, niende nyumbani.”

When he asked how the motorbike would be delivered to him, he claims the response was suspicious:

“Nikawauliza watajuaje nyumbani kwangu? Wakasema watatumia Truecaller. Nilipouliza zaidi, wakanifukuza.”

Odhiambo further alleged he has since received threats:

“Wananipigia hata kwa private number, wananambia mambo ni mawili—nirekodi video niseme nilipata pikipiki, au niseme sikuenda Ikulu. Nimekataa… Mimi niko tayari waniuue, lakini sitakubali kudanganya. Hawakunipea pikipiki.”

Another youth, Collins Otwala, claimed his group of 50 was also turned away empty-handed.

“Proposal yetu ilikuwa kupata vifaa vya media, lakini tukaambiwa twende nyumbani. Hata wale wa boda hawakupata. Ndiyo tukasema hatutanyamaza,” he said.

The youth further allege that a meeting held the following Friday at Jacaranda was staged, claiming it involved distributing motorcycles to a different group to suppress the backlash.

Responding to the claims, Senator Nyamu said:

“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.”

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has previously indicated that delays in distribution were due to the formalisation of ownership documentation.