Two Nairobi youths have come forward claiming they never received the boda bodas promised to them during a youth empowerment event hosted by President William Ruto at State House on Saturday, August 9.

Collins Otwala and Dickens Kamau Odhiambo said they attended the event, where they posed for photographs next to motorcycles that were being handed out to young people as part of an empowerment initiative. The two believed they would also benefit from the program but say days later, the promised boda bodas never materialized.

Instead, they allege they began receiving anonymous phone calls threatening their lives after they publicly expressed their frustration. The youths turned to social media to air their grievances, criticizing the government for what they described as broken promises and intimidation.

“What we thought was an opportunity to change our lives has left us with fear and disappointment,” one of them said.

The claims have sparked discussion online about transparency in government led empowerment projects, with some Kenyans demanding accountability over how the motorcycles were distributed.