A group of youth from Jacaranda in Embakasi who attended last Saturday’s State House empowerment event are now speaking out, claiming they never received the motorbikes and other items they were promised.
What began as a hopeful event has now turned into fear, anger, and accusations of deception. The young people say they feel betrayed and even unsafe after posting a video asking President William Ruto to explain why they went home empty-handed.
They have gone as far as describing the programme as a sham, insisting that anyone holding the motorbikes and ownership papers should come forward and prove them wrong.
One of the most vocal voices in the matter is Dickens Kamau Odhiambo, popularly known as Kamau wa Kisumu. He says his life is in danger after a viral video he posted at Bunge la Mwananchi in Jacaranda, Kayole.
In the video, he narrated how he was deceived and denied the motorbike that was promised to him.
He laid the blame on nominated Senator Karen Nyamu, saying, “Seneta Karen Nyamu ndiye alituweka kwenye orodha… Tulifika huko saa 10 alfajiri, tukapewa mchele na minced meat.” Odhiambo went on to explain that he was photographed with a motorbike but things turned sour soon after.
“Nikaambiwa nitoke nje ya Gate D. Hapo nikakutana na walinzi wa GSU wakaniambia nimeshatoa taarifa zangu, niende nyumbani,” he said.
When he tried to ask how the motorcycle would eventually reach him, the response he received raised more suspicion than assurance.
“Nikawauliza watajuaje nyumbani kwangu? Wakasema watatumia Truecaller. Nilipouliza zaidi, wakanifukuza,” Odhiambo recalled.
He now claims his life is at risk, saying he has been receiving threatening phone calls.
“Wananipigia hata kwa private number, wananambia mambo ni mawili—nirekodi video niseme nilipata pikipiki, au niseme sikuenda Ikulu. Nimekataa,” he revealed.
Another youth, Collins Otwala, backed his account. He explained that his group of 50 was reduced to 10 selected representatives with the hope of receiving media equipment. In the end, he says they were told to go home without anything, just like the boda boda riders who had also been promised motorbikes.
“Sisi tulikuwa 50, tukateuliwa 10. Proposal yetu ilikuwa kupata vifaa vya media, lakini tukaambiwa twende nyumbani. Hata wale wa boda hawakupata. Ndiyo tukasema hatutanyamaza,” Otwala said.
The group now insists the whole programme was a scam. Odhiambo added, “Mimi niko tayari waniuue, lakini sitakubali kudanganya. Hawakunipea pikipiki. Na kama wanataka kuniua, waniue.”
The youth have also accused organisers of staging a follow-up meeting in Jacaranda on Friday to fake the issuance of motorbikes to selected individuals as a way of calming the backlash.
They believe the move was only meant to silence critics and portray the programme as successful.
Senator Karen Nyamu, who has been accused of being behind the alleged deception, has denied the claims. She dismissed the complaints, saying they were too few to be taken seriously.
“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,” Nyamu said.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has also commented on the matter, insisting that the delays in delivery of the promised items were caused by the process of formalising ownership.
However, with the mounting testimonies and fears among the youth, the explanations from leaders are being received with growing doubt.
To the young people of Jacaranda, the programme is nothing but a failed promise that has left them not only empty-handed but also fearing for their safety.
