What was supposed to be a transformative empowerment event for women, youth, and Saccos in Kitui Central on Monday has left behind a storm of anger, betrayal, and ridicule. Branded under the Bottom-Up Economic model, the high-profile event held at Ithookwe Grounds was graced by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Majority Leaders Kimani Ichung’wah and Aaron Cheruiyot, and several UDA-affiliated leaders from the Lower Eastern region.
But beneath the public show of unity and development, several women’s groups have come out strongly—privately and anonymously—accusing state operatives and local organizers of mismanaging the funds and sabotaging the event to line their own pockets.
According to accounts gathered by Channel 15 News, most groups were shortchanged right from the planning phase. Promises were made—millions were mentioned—but by the end of the event, the figures on the ground painted a very different picture.
For instance, one women’s group from Kywangithywa West, which had been promised Ksh 1.5 million, reported receiving only Ksh 200,000. The whereabouts of the remaining funds remain unclear, with members openly questioning who walked away with the lion’s share of what was publicly declared as over Ksh 5 million in mobilization and empowerment support.
In addition, a source who was directly involved in the logistics and supply chain of the event said that even suppliers faced delays and confusion over payments. Tents, food, and transport services were sorted late into the evening, with some claims still pending by the time guests left.
Attendees who were not part of any formally organized groups fared worse. Many, mostly youth, say they received only Ksh 250 in transport refunds—a token amount that sparked outrage and mockery in equal measure. The much-touted “empowerment” quickly became a running joke among those who walked several kilometers expecting meaningful support.
A UDA official in Kitui County, speaking off the record, admitted that some organizers pocketed as much as Ksh 200,000 each in what were described internally as “coordination allowances.” These revelations have only fueled suspicions that the entire event was more about political optics than actual community development.
Women leaders interviewed by Channel 15 News claim that a senior State House operative with ties to the organizing team deliberately manipulated the process to favor selected groups and individuals aligned with certain political interests. Several group representatives described the affair as “a classic case of using poor women for political shows, then dumping them afterward.”
One official from a Sacco in Mulango summed it up bluntly:
“They came with choppers, spoke big grammar about Bottom-Up, took photos with us, then left us with empty envelopes and broken promises.”
With widespread discontent now simmering across Kitui Central, pressure is mounting for the national leadership to audit the event and publicly account for the funds disbursed—or claimed to have been disbursed.
For many women who attended in good faith, the message is now clear: the real empowerment lies not in stage-managed donations, but in holding leaders accountable.
