Confusion as Itumbi, Hussein Mohamed differ on State House empowerment beneficiaries
The Head of Presidential Special Projects & Creative Economy, Dennis Itumbi, and State House Spokesperson, Hussein Mohamed, have thrown Kenyans into confusion regarding the exact number of State House empowerment beneficiaries.
Taking to their X handles on Friday, August 16, 2025, the duo seemed to be reading from different pages of the book.
Mohamed and Itumbi differ
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“A total of 1,100 registered groups from Nairobi submitted proposals for their empowerment programmes or projects, all approved, all funded, all received.
“Each group had 10 members with a chairperson who delivered the projects for an orderly process. That’s 11,000 people in total,” Hussein Mohamed wrote on X.
He criticised a local TV station for interviewing just two individuals, saying, “Their curious formula: 2 voices outweigh 11,000 recipients, and that equals ‘unfulfilled promises.’ Unbelievable!”
But Itumbi gave a different figure, insisting that the beneficiaries were 1,150 groups of 10 people each.
“No items were issued to individuals. The empowerment TARGETTED 1,150 GROUPS, each consisting of 10 people.
“Only the group chairmen were allowed to collect the items. That was the OFFICIAL process,” he wrote. He further added, “EVEN lying, to paraphrase President Kibaki, requires some DESIGN!,” Itumbi wrote.
Questions after youth complaints
The conflicting figures from the two top officials came amid rumours and reports that several young people who attended the empowerment events were duped.
For instance, youth from Jacaranda in Embakasi alleged that they never received the promised motorbikes and equipment.
One of them, Dickens Kamau Odhiambo, told the media he was photographed with a motorbike but later sent home empty-handed, and now fears for his life.
“Wananipigia hata kwa private number, wananiambia mambo ni mawili, nirekodi video niseme nilipata pikipiki, au niseme sikuenda Ikulu. Nimekataa,” he said.
Others, like Collins Otwala, said their group was also turned away despite having submitted proposals.
UDA’s nominated senator, Karen Nyamu, however, dismissed the complaints, saying only a few people were making noise out of thousands who benefited.
As the debate continues, the lack of clarity between Itumbi and Hussein has raised further doubts about transparency in the programme, leaving Kenyans questioning the true scale of beneficiaries.
