A Sh600,000 cash donation from Deputy President William Ruto has sparked protests by boda boda operators and mama mbogas in Tigania East, Muriri town.
The boda boda operators and mama mbogas are said to have accused individuals entrusted with Ruto’s cash donation of shortchanging them.
A Boda Boda operator told Baite Tv that they received Ksh 5000 from Ruto’s Ksh 300,000 donation and wondered where the balance was.
He said Mama Mbogas were promised Ksh 300,000 but have yet to receive it. He demanded to know the whereabouts of the Ksh 600,000.
According to Joseph Kobia, a resident, some people wished to smear the image of Deputy President William Ruto when they claimed to be UDA officials from Tigania East’s Muthara Ward.
“There is not a single registered member of the UDA party in Muthara Ward, Tiigania East who was aware of Ruto’s visit to Meru County. What we saw were only people wearing UDA-printed shirts and caps. Some individuals have misled aspirants into believing that they are party officials in charge of mobilizing votes in communities when, in reality, they are only interested in the money,” said Kobia.
Kobia said that bodaboda operator protests erupted in Muthara and Muriri as a result of a cartel of individuals deceiving Ruto into believing they were in charge of mobilizing bodaboda operator crowds ahead of his visit.
“Ruto was duped because he never visits the mashinani to meet with community leaders and boda boda operators. Boda boda drivers protested because they didn’t know who received Ruto’s Sh300,000 donation because they never received it. I’m curious about the whereabouts of the person who received Ruto’s donations but failed to distribute them to boda boda operators,” said Kobia.
He said during his visits to constituencies, Ruto was occasionally accompanied by elected leaders, but he was not accompanied by any elected leaders when he visited Muthara and Muriri.
‘Ruto should be informed that residents of Muthara and Tigania East are rallying behind the UDA, but there are no UDA representatives. He should be informed that there is a house in Muriri that has been painted with UDA party colors and is being set up by cartels with the intention of disappearing with Ruto’s donations,” said Kobia.
According to Kobia, Tigania East Member of Parliament Hon. Kabeabea did not accompany Ruto during his visits to Muthara and Muriri.
“Tigania West MP Mutunga introduced Ruto, and we wonder if Tigania East has elected leaders capable of representing mama mbogas, boda boda operators, and residents. We expected Tigania East residents to receive money in the same way that Tigania West, Igembe North and South residents received money without challenges,” said Kobia.
A protester said that every time Ruto made a donation during any of his visits, residents never receive it.
Koome, a leader of persons living with disabilities group said the officials in charge of organizing Ruto’s events will prevent him from becoming president.
“Senator Mithika Linturi witnessed Ruto’s promise to donate money to the boda boda drivers and mama mbogas. Ruto never entrusted the money to specific individuals when distributing it. I request that Mithika Linturi intervene and reveal the person who was entrusted with Ruto’s donation so that the protests can be put to an end,” said Koome.
Koome said that a large number of young men were arrested, and motorcycles towed to the police station.
A protester said that Ruto should come out and explain whether or not he gave the money. She accused Kabeabea of ordering that the money not be distributed to the two groups.
