Traders in Kongowea Market, Mombasa County, are demanding an account for the Ksh2 million donated by Deputy President William Ruto to empower small traders.
They claim that Ksh1.3 million had been embezzled and deposited into private accounts, by individuals entrusted by the DP.
The over 10,000 traders, through their chairperson Richard Nyangoto, stated that only Ksh700, 000 had reached the traders, while the remaining amount disappeared mysteriously upon landing on what they described as wrong hands.
“According to our investigations, it’s only Ksh700, 000 that has reached the people. The remaining amount has been deposited into private accounts by six people,” stated Nyangoto.
Nyangoto further claimed that the money had caused unprecedented divisions amongst themselves, as the distribution of Ksh700,000 was skewed, meant to benefit a few individuals and not the targeted people. He claimed that some people received Ksh5,000 while others received as little as Ksh100 and Ksh50.
“We want the remaining amount to be given to small scale traders. The money has caused differences as some sections received Ksh5000 while others received Ksh100 and Ksh50.” he expressed.
The chairperson alleged that the purported officials deliberately declined to engage the market officials after receiving the money with the sole intention of embezzling it.
Mr. Phillip Sammy, the market patron, who was in the company of Mr. Nyangoto, added that some of the beneficiaries of the Ksh700,000 were not traders, but sourced from outside by those who received the donation from Ruto on behalf of the traders.
The Traders’ efforts to seek answers from the area Member of Parliament, Mohammed Ali, bore no fruits as their requests were ignored.
On Saturday, October 16, William Ruto promised Kongowea traders the money during his tour of the coastal region to popularize his hustler movement. The cash was delivered by Nyali legislator Mohamed Ali on Tuesday, October 19.
