Nairobi Youth Say They Never Received Boda Bodas After Ruto's Empowerment Event
- Collins Otwala and Dickens Odhiambo alias Kamau wa Kisumu went to the State House on Saturday, August 9, for the Youth Empowerment event
- They posed for pictures next to boda bodas being issued to the youth at the event, hoping they would own them too
- What followed days later were unfulfilled promises and alleged anonymous phone calls threatening their lives
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Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and Current Affairs in Kenya
A group of youth who attended President William Ruto's youth empowerment event on Saturday, August 9, have expressed their dissatisfaction days later.
Source: Facebook
They decried not receiving the boda bodas that the head of state reportedly promised them during the event.
Following their disappointment, the young men took to social media to highlight their frustrations with the regime, not knowing that this move would be the beginning of their problems.
Did Ruto hand over boda bodas?
Speaking to Citizen TV, the youth raised concerns about their safety after posting the videos online.
Dickens Odhiambo alias Kamua wa Kisumu appealed to Kenyans to help him as his life was in danger for declaring publicly that he did not receive a boda boda as promised.
"Wakenya naomba mmnisaidie. Maisha yangu iko hatarini. All this is because I said I never got a motorbike. They want to kill me for speaking the truth," Odhiambo said.
Odhiambo alleged that senator Karen Nyamu was the one who looked for him and his counterparts to attend the State House event.
"They looked for my name in the system, and it was there. We were then allowed to enter the State House. Upon arriving, I was given food that, I can't deny," he added.
While expressing his frustrations, he said that just like his fellow youth, he posed for a picture with one boda boda, hoping it would be given to him.
However, things didn't go as planned, as he was told to step outside, and that the boda boda would be delivered right at his doorstep.
He noted that he became sceptical after he was told that, because he had not been asked about his area of residence.
"I asked the officer, "Do you know where I live"? Then they said, Truecaller would reveal to them. I then asked the police how Truecaller would help them locate me?" Odhiambo said.
Is Dickens Odhiambo receiving threats?
Expressing his fears, Odhiambo said that he has been receiving calls from private numbers telling him to state that he finally received a boda boda publicly.
Another youth, identified as Collins Otwala, echoed the statement, saying that he was also among the people who never got the bodas.
"I can't keep quiet; they might kill me. I am pleading with you to go tell Kenyans that no motorbikes are being given out
In response to the matter, Senator Nyamu boldly refuted the allegations, stating that all the youth she had sent to State House had received their motorbikes.
Did Ruto reduce motorbike prices?
This came weeks after Ruto's administration announced its plan to support the country's boda sector.
Source: Twitter
Speaking during a meeting with boda officials on Thursday, August 7, Ruto promised that the price of motorcycles would be reduced to KSh 95,000.
He further announced that he was working on reforms to ensure that the daily payments for those acquiring motorbikes on credit had been reduced.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
