State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed has defended the recent empowerment programme against claims of unfulfilled promises.

Taking to his official X account in the wee hours of Saturday, August 16, 2025, Hussein stated that the process was transparent and all approved beneficiaries received funding.

Beneficiaries

He revealed that a total of 1,100 registered groups from Nairobi submitted proposals for various empowerment projects.

All proposals, Hussein said, were vetted, approved, and funded. He clarified that each group had 10 members, with a chairperson responsible for delivering the projects to ensure order and accountability, amounting to 11,000 beneficiaries in total.

“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,” he stated.

Hussein further criticised a recent media report that interviewed only two individuals to make claims of unmet promises, without seeking clarification from the State House or verifying with the thousands of actual beneficiaries.

“But here’s the silver lining: 11,000 more people now know exactly how the media can twist a story, & just how “truthful” they really are, deliberately or otherwise,” he stated.

Itumbi’s remarks

Hussein’s statement comes hours after the head of Presidential Special Projects & Creative Economy, Dennis Itumbi, dismissed claims by Kenyan youth Dickens Kamau Odhiambo, popularly known as Kamau wa Kisumu, that he never received a promised motorbike during a recent State House empowerment programme.

Taking to his official X account on Friday, August 15, 2025, Itumbi clarified that the State House empowerment initiative targeted 1,150 groups, each made up of 10 members.

According to Itumbi, only group chairpersons were permitted to collect items on behalf of their members, in line with official procedure.

“No items were issued to individuals. The empowerment targeted 1,150 groups, each consisting of 10 people. Only the group chairmen were allowed to collect the items. That was the official process,” he stated.

Itumbi hinted that a second phase of the empowerment programme — dubbed Nairobi Empowerment Season Two — would follow soon, reiterating that the process was transparent and well-structured.

“EVEN lying, to paraphrase President Kibaki, requires some DESIGN! Ukora na Uwongo – Nairobi Empowerment SEASON TWO, will FOLLOW!” he stated.