Boda Boda riders in Kitengela are going for each other’s head over the cash that was donated to them by Deputy President William Ruto earlier in the month.
Representatives of the Kitengela Boda Boda Association met the DP at his Karen residence where he gave them a Ksh750,000 donation to help them in their businesses.
But according to a section of the more than 7,512 registered Boda Boda operators, they were short-changed by the leaders who represented them.
They claim that the money was shared out among a few riders although the money was to help them start an income-generating project.
“There was no meeting and consultation about sharing the money and only a committee comprising five members made a decision on behalf of us and divided the money among a few individuals,” a rider, Eric Onyango explained.
There has been a leadership wrangle between boda boda operators in Kitengela with two different groups claiming legitimacy.
A delegation of Kitengela Market traders and boba boda riders had been invited for a quorum at DP Ruto’s residence earlier in October.
DP Ruto maintained that the mindset of entrepreneurs would form the pillar for future generations.
Similar sentiments were echoed by President Uhuru Kenyatta during the signing of a major partnership between Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya (BAK), Capital Markets Authority, an oil marketer and an investment firm at Majengo, Nairobi County.
Deputy President William Ruto has continued his war against his rival ODM leader Raila Odinga over donation and handouts ahead of 2022 polls.
Raila, the presumed main Ruto 2022 opponent, has accused the DP of perpetuating politics of bribery and handouts disguised as donations and empowerment projects.
The DP has rolled out a multibillion-shilling kitty to empower the youth, women and the vulnerable, breaking away from the formal government structures as he ramps up his 2022 campaigns.
But speaking at his Karen Home in Nairobi on Tuesday, Ruto said that he is not looking for votes ahead of the elections which will likely see the two pit against each other should Raila once again throw his hat into the ring.
“…sina haja na kura, niko na haja ya kuinua hustle ya waKenya kama naibu wa rais..hiyo ingine itakuja na bahati ya Mungu….” he said.
This loosely translates to (I am not interested in looking for votes, my interest is to promote Kenyans’ hustles as the DP…the rest will come as a chance from God.)
Ruto told off his critics urging them to stop complaining about what he was doing out of goodwill.
“…wale mnasikia wanalalamika na kukasirika ati kwa sababu mtu amepewa mkokoteni, wheel barrow, wanalalamika kwa sababu hawataki waKenya watoke umasikinini..” he said.
Translates to: (Those complaining and feeling bitter about my donations, are complaining because they do not want Kenyans to get out of poverty)
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The Deputy President said their plan as the Hustler nation is to pull everybody out of poverty.
“A journey of 1,000 km starts with the first steps.. and I promise you that we will reach our destination,” he said.
Ruto claimed that Raila only wanted the youths who can throw stones and join him in demonstrations.
“We are giving you notice when you start looking for people to throw stones and demonstrate…look for your kids, these hustlers are busy, they don’t have time.. next time when they come for demonstrations tell them mko kazi,” he said.
