Former PM Raila Odinga has given instructions to the government to procure beds from Juja based artisan Meshack Otieon, this according to his long time aide Silas Jakakimba.
Announcing his social media pages, Jakakimba said he had a lengthy conversation with both the State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita and PDU Delivery Secretary Andrew Wakahiu who confirmed the directive.
“I can authoritatively reveal that instructions have issued to ensure Government procures beds from him alongside the other youths,” read part of the statement.
I have this afternoon spoken with both State Hse Chief-Of-Staff @NziokaWaita and @PDUDelivery Secretary @andrew_wakahiu1 ,Re: Meshack Otieno of Juja. I can authoritatively reveal that instructions have issued to ensure Government procures beds from him alongside the other youths.
— Silas Chepkeres Jakakimba (@silasjakakimba) July 16, 2020
Yesterday, Kenyans were disappointed when they learnt that the order by President Uhuru Kenyatta to procure 500 beds had been given to a different group of youthful innovators led by Mungai Gathogo and Joseph Muhinja based at Githunguri in Kiambu county and not Meshack Otieno whose innovation had gone viral
To many Kenyans on social media, this was an act of raw tribalism blaming Mechack’s last name for the misfortune that befell him.
Controversial former presidential candidate Mwalimu Dida was among the first to fire the salvo indicating that he has henceforth adopted a Kikuyu name.
“I am officially Mwalimu Kinuthia Mwangi. I think that using a Mwangi or Kinuthia name is the only way to get recognition from the government. This breaks my heart. If the Kikuyu community doesn’t stand with Kenyans against blatant tribalism, they will suffer the same one day,” he tweeted.
To his shock, Mr Otieono himself had no idea the president had given out the tender to a different group of innovators, and that he had been trending all day in social media.
“I have not been given any order by anybody. Yes, I do work with seven guys but today we are only four of us and we have not been visited by any government official,” he said.
He stated that he harbored no ill feelings towards the two youth in Githurai who bagged the order of 500 hospital beds,
“I am happy for the other person, and I’m praying for my time to come. This was his time but mine will also come. We couldn’t all have been chosen for that and as long as youth are benefitting that is good,” he said.
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While commending the government for the bold move, Meshack said his only plea was that he too be given an order to deliver the beds or at least the tender be divided between him and the Githunguri group. “I am actually the one who went viral on social media, I am the one who took video of one of my guys eating on one of the beds illustrating how it works, I too should be considered and be given an order. “Even if it means we divide the order, it’s okay, at least we all shall have received something out of it,” he said.
