List of goodies Nairobians set to get from Ruto after State House Empowerment Forum
By Mabonga Makhanu, August 9, 2025President William Ruto, on Saturday, August 9, 2025, showered Nairobi residents with a wide range of goodies during the Nairobi Empowerment Forum held at State House.
The president, who graced the occasion attended by several city leaders, among them Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris, nominated Senator Karen Nyamu, and a majority of Nairobi MPs, oversaw the distribution of various items meant to support local businesses and groups.
The items included 300 motorcycles to be distributed to different bodaboda groups across the city; public address systems; salon equipment; car wash machines; sewing machines; laundry equipment; catering equipment; maize milling machines; welding and carpentry machines; garage equipment; tents and chairs; and water tanks.
All these items, running into the hundreds, were to be issued to Nairobi residents who, according to the president, were expected to organise themselves into groups for proper allocation.
Residents turned up at State House in large numbers for the event, where they were also entertained by musicians.
Lowering State House standards
During the drive, Ruto dismissed accusations that he had lowered the institution’s standards. “Kuna jamaa mmoja alisema nimeshusha standard ya State House;
“I have just improved the mere citizen to come to the State House,” he said, adding, “Every person matters for equality in Kenya.” He reiterated this message during the Nairobi County Empowerment Programme on August 8, 2025, underlining a vision of people-centred leadership.
The president continued defending his move, saying that the State House belongs to all Kenyans and him inviting commoners to the State House is not lowering its standards but raising them, saying that initially it was only the royals who used to dine in the State House, but now it is open even to the common mwanachi, since his leadership is centred on the citizens who are at the grassroots level.
“Unajua hapa State House, zamani waliokuwa wanakuja ni wale wadosi tu. Juzi kuna jamaa mmoja alikuja hapa; wakati alirudi, akasema, ‘Nimeenda pale State House,’ lakini huyu rais amezusha sana kiwango, kwa sababu siku hizi watu walioko pale ni watu tu hivi hivi.”