Don't quarrel State House guests, but question the host
Opinion
By
Mike Nyagwoka
| Aug 17, 2025
I would not have any quarrel with citizens who turn up at State House for so-called empowerment meetings; my problem is with those who invite them. The guests are simply accepting an invitation.
It is the hosts we must question. With an election two years away, these State House meetings are a desperate attempt to arm-twist Kenyan voters using state resources, the allure of short-term gains, and bragging rights that might come with taking photos on those well-manicured lawns or side by side with state cronies.
While one might be tempted to go if invited, the fact is there is nothing more economically disempowering than tokenism. We all know the true aim of these activities is political rather than economical, and the benefactors aren’t hiding it. The spectacle is a subliminal admission that poverty still reigns, and the government is willing to exploit this condition for political convenience.
Consider the government’s flagship Hustler Fund, for instance. It has disbursed over Sh72 billion to millions of Kenyans, yet audits have revealed significant flaws, including loans disbursed to “unborn” and underage customers. A report by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) branded the fund a “colossal failure,” treating poverty not as a problem to be solved but as a condition to be exploited for votes.
A truly economically empowered people would not be so subservient to a political class that tries to bribe them out of their beliefs. This is an admission the government is banking on a fat campaign budget to secure a second term and not necessarily a fat budget to deliver on promises. There are a million things President William Ruto could do that would influence voters by the millions and save those sacred grounds from desecration. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be any different from Jacaranda or Jeevanjee.
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A recent GeoPoll survey on June 2025 protests found that while economic concerns remain high, political dissatisfaction has now surpassed the cost of living as the primary reason for public protest. This shift signals a deeper crisis of public trust. Using State House grounds for mass political meetings is an affront to democracy and dampens public trust even more.
If such meetings are happening this early, what can we expect in months leading up to 2027 election? The State House must remain a place where policies are formed to uplift the masses, not where the masses are hosted. It is revered ground, a symbol of unity and sovereignty, and if the State has accepted to open its gates to the public, it should have done so for the Gen Zs who also had a message to deliver.
The State House must not be a theater for politics of allegiance but a breeding ground for ideas. The message from Kenyans has always been very simple: deliver on your promises, make life affordable, provide quality government services, and stop corruption.
These are not things Kenyans would line up at State House for, but they would appreciate them far more. These are promises that, if delivered, unlock opportunities far more impactful than the few thousands people would benefit from at State House.
-nyagwokamike@gmail.com