A government-backed economic empowerment event led by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki in Nyaribari Chache, Kisii County, descended into chaos on Friday, June 13, 2025, when angry youths stormed the venue and fled with equipment intended for donation to local women’s groups.
The incident, which unfolded at Nyanturago Sports Ground, has sparked widespread criticism and raised questions about the organisation and intent of the empowerment initiative.
The event, part of Kindiki’s ongoing nationwide campaign to support micro and small enterprises, aimed to distribute equipment and funds to women’s groups and small-scale traders under the Kenya Kwanza administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
However, tensions escalated when a group of youths, reportedly frustrated with the event’s proceedings, disrupted the gathering, grabbing items meant for donation and fleeing the scene.
Netizens described the incident as a “disempowerment” of Kindiki’s programme, with one user alleging that residents “rescued items to safety in their homes” amid the chaos.
Videos circulating on social media showed police attempting to restore order, with reports of officers being pelted with stones and chased by residents.
The unrest forced organisers to cut the event short, leaving attendees and local leaders stunned.
Deputy President Kindiki, accompanied by area MP Zaheer Jhanda, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, and other regional leaders, had earlier highlighted the government’s commitment to empowering small traders through initiatives like the Nyota programme, which promises KSh 50,000 grants to 70 businesses per ward.
Critics labelled the event a “scandalous” misuse of resources, arguing that funds and equipment could have been better allocated to education, healthcare, or rural infrastructure. Others questioned the authenticity of the empowerment drive, with one post describing it as a “fake empowerment” scheme.
The incident has fuelled ongoing debates about the transparency and effectiveness of Kindiki’s high-profile donation programmes, which have seen millions of shillings distributed across Kenya, often accompanied by controversy over their funding sources.
The disruption in Kisii adds to the challenges facing Kindiki’s empowerment initiatives, which have previously faced scrutiny for their political undertones and accusations of being a vote-buying tactic ahead of the 2027 General Election.
