A group of residents from Meru County recently faced a frustrating ordeal in Nairobi after being ferried to attend a political function at State House.
They had been promised payment for their attendance and travel by local organizers who had mobilized them for the gathering. Instead, once the event concluded, the organizers vanished without fulfilling their promises, leaving the group stranded and desperate.
What was meant to be an opportunity for them to earn some money ended in confusion, anger, and humiliation at the gates of State House.
The group, made up mostly of grassroots community members from different parts of Meru, had been assured that each person would receive at least 10,000 shillings as both an allowance and reimbursement for their journey.
Videos shared online captured them waiting outside, visibly frustrated, with some demanding to know where the brokers had gone. Calls made to their supposed handlers went unanswered, as phones were switched off, worsening the situation for the stranded crowd who had no money for transport back home.
The scene quickly turned chaotic, with shouts and complaints filling the air.
This problem is not new in Kenya’s politics. Over the years, politicians and their brokers have used vulnerable communities to inflate attendance at functions, only to abandon them later.
In 2024, when Deputy President Kithure Kindiki was sworn in, residents from Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties also complained about being left stranded after their coordinators disappeared with funds meant for transport and allowances.
Similar cases have been recorded in court mobilizations and political rallies where money intended for distribution either disappeared or caused ugly fights among attendees.
Reports suggested that over 80 people were mobilized, some of them ferried through networks connected to Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma.
Their expectation was that after the meeting, payments would be made smoothly, but instead they spent hours under the scorching sun demanding what was due to them. Online, many described the incident as “sarakasi,” a term used to describe senseless drama.
The fact that some of the brokers were familiar local leaders made the betrayal sting even more for those who trusted them.
Political mobilization in Kenya has long depended on financial incentives. Crowds are often ferried to venues, not out of genuine interest in the event, but because they have been promised money.
When this system breaks down, the burden falls on poor citizens who sometimes end up sleeping in towns, borrowing fare, or walking home. In July 2024, similar complaints came from Mombasa and Malindi during events involving then Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa, when participants caused commotion after not receiving what they were promised.
The Meru case has sparked debate on accountability in Kenyan politics. Some argue that those who participate in such arrangements know the risks, while others insist the practice is outright exploitation.
Civil society groups are pushing for investigations into how mobilization funds are handled, especially when state functions are involved. Yet, the silence from authorities has left many feeling that such incidents will continue unchecked.
