Viral video footage going rounds on social media has put Mt Kenya Governor on spot over payments made to attendees of the BBI rally at Kinoru Stadium, in Meru County, on Saturday.
In the footage accessed by this writer, a group of people in a bus are captured complaining in Kikuyu language over being paid less money.
Majority of the passengers are recorded heckling and raising their hands in protest of a something seemingly about the BBI meeting meant for Mt Kenya region.
According to several sources on social media, the group of people were protesting over shoddy payment they received to attend the BBI rally.
A tweet by Statehouse Digital Secretary, who of late has been an ardent supporter of DP William Ruto, the group of men were lamenting over the ‘small’ pay and were demanding to be ferried back to their homes.
“Sentiments from inside the buses ferrying people GENERAL TRANSLATION ” How can we be paid Shs. 500 to attend BBI. Turn the bus and take us back. Governor Kimemia hates the people of Nyandarua….” Very well…,” tweeted Itumbi.
Meru Mobilization….
Sentiments from inside the buses ferrying people
GENERAL TRANSLATION
" How can we be paid Shs. 500 to attend BBI. Turn the bus and take us back.
Governor Kimemia hates the people of Nyandarua…."
Very well…. pic.twitter.com/2zgjet7VQB
— Dennis Itumbi, HSC (@OleItumbi) February 29, 2020
In another footage shared by Robin Njogu, Royal Media Services journalist working with Radio Citizen, a resident claiming to be from Tharaka Nithi was recorded saying that they had been duped.
“Serikali ya Tharaka Nithi, shilingi mia tano sio ya kulipa mwananchi kutoka Chuka mpaka Meru na tumeshindwa ni nini tumekujia Meru,” said the unidentified man from Tharaka Nithi.
We've just been conned – #BBIInMeru pic.twitter.com/n3u2lo2FlK
— Robin Njogu (@robinnjogu) February 29, 2020
Loosely translated as: “the County Government of Tharaka Nithi, it is not worth paying people Ksh5oo from Chuka to Meu. W are wondering what we have come for here in Meru.”
The lamentations came hours before the Mt Kenya BBI meeting starts.
The BBI meeting is set to consolidate the views of the people of Mt Kenya region that include Laikipia, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Kiambu, Murangá, Nyeri and Nyandarua.
ODM leader Raila Odinga is expected to lead the BBI meeting.
Leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto, including MPs Moses Kuria (Gatundu), Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), Alice Wahome (Kandara), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira) and several others, have castigated the meeting.
During the consolidation of the views, held in preceding counties, leaders allied to the DP did no attend in their respective counties.
It is a matter of time before it becomes clear whether the much-rumoured showdown will come forth at Kinoru Stadium.