NAIROBI, Kenya – State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed has dismissed claims that some groups in Nairobi were left out of the government’s empowerment programme during last week’s distribution exercise at State House.
The clarification followed reports suggesting that beneficiaries were sidelined in the high-profile forum, which brought together thousands of Nairobi residents to receive tools and resources for their approved projects.
In a statement on Saturday, Hussein said all groups that submitted proposals under the programme were funded and supplied with their allocations in full.
“A total of 1,100 registered groups from Nairobi submitted proposals for their empowerment programmes or projects — all approved, all funded, all received,” he said.
He explained that each group comprised ten members and a chairperson, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 11,000.
For orderliness, only group leaders collected the items on behalf of their members.
Echoing the spokesperson’s remarks, digital strategist Dennis Itumbi emphasized that the process was structured to allow only chairpersons to handle collection.
“The empowerment targeted 1,150 groups, each consisting of 10 people. Only the group chairmen were allowed to collect the items. That was the official process,” Itumbi noted, while hinting that a second phase of the programme would soon roll out.
The clarification came days after President William Ruto hosted Nairobi residents at State House for the empowerment forum, where groups received assorted items, including motorcycles, to support their ventures.
During the event, President Ruto urged Kenyans to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA), assuring them of access to medical services without out-of-pocket expenses.
“Jiandikishe na uandikishe familia yako ili wakiwa wagonjwa wapate matibabu bila malipo yoyote,” he said.
The empowerment initiative is part of a series of forums the administration has been conducting across the country to support self-reliance and boost livelihoods.
