- A youth equipment handover in Homa Bay turned chaotic as crowds surged onto the stadium pitch.
- Machines and other business equipment became the centre of a scramble as tensions rose.
- Police were called in and secured the remaining equipment after the handover was halted.
A government programme meant to equip women, youths and people living with disability in Homa Bay descended into chaos on Wednesday after rowdy crowds carted off machines during the handover.
The Jua Kali Artisan Day took place at Raila Odinga Stadium and was an initiative of Woman Representative Joyce Osogo Bensuda. Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary (CS) Wycliffe Oparanya was the chief guest. Registered groups had gathered to receive tools that could help them start or grow small businesses.
The consignment was sizeable. Osogo’s office had bought sewing, welding and lathe machines, posho mills, car wash pumps, water tanks, wheelchairs, mattresses, jikos and cooler boxes. The ministry then added eight car wash machines, eight welding machines, a leather sewing machine, wrench and jack sets, mechanical tool kits, 14 survey machines and eight knitting machines. It also supplied five posho mills, five ice machines and five woodworking machines. Oparanya said part of the equipment came from President William Ruto.
For most of the programme, calm prevailed. As the handover neared its end, however, shouts rose from one corner of the stands. Within moments, groups of youths spilled onto the pitch where the items were laid out. They began lifting machines and walking away. Some even tried to snatch a welding machine from a group that had only just received it.
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Panic followed. Oparanya’s bodyguards closed ranks around him as part of the crowd surged towards the high table. From there, he pleaded with the youths to stop. He also warned beneficiaries to guard their new equipment closely, since lost items would not be replaced. In a pointed rebuke, he asked why anyone would take what was meant to lift them, stressing that the government had delivered plenty to support residents.
Police were summoned and reached the stadium about five minutes later. Officers halted the handover and moved the remaining equipment to a secure location.
Local leaders condemned the incident, describing it as unacceptable. Homa Bay Bunge la Wenye Nchi leader Walter Opiyo cautioned that stealing at public events could soon spill into attacks on shops and property.
Senator Moses Kajwang and Karachuonyo MP Andrew Adipo Okoume also condemned the scenes. Both urged leaders to engage young people and open real opportunities for them. Kajwang warned that ignoring such conduct could breed bigger problems.
By Benedict Aoya
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