Senator Karen Nyamu in feud with Nairobi businessman over Sh29K hotel bill

[00:00:00]Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu is facing fresh accusations of using her political influence to intimidate and target young entrepreneurs in Nairobi with claims emerging that she has weaponized groups of youths against individuals who dare challenge her politically. At the center of the latest controversy is Dickens Odhiambo, popularly known as Kamau wa Kisumu, a young businessman who alleges that Nyamu stormed his food kiosk with a group of youths who consumed food worth nearly 30,000 shillings and left without paying. Our reporter Herman Kamariki has the details.

[00:00:45]>> First glance, look at Karen Nyamu, the nominated senator.

[00:00:49]These images paint a picture of a leader engaging with young people and supporting small businesses.

[00:00:56]As food is served and laughter fills the air, one might easily conclude that this was a routine visit aimed at empowering youth and promoting local enterprise.

[00:01:07]But according to the owner of the business, what appeared to be support turned into an ordeal that left him counting losses.

[00:01:49]According to Odhiambo, the fallout began after Karen Nyamu mobilized a group of youth from the area and took them to State House with promises that they would receive motorcycles to improve their livelihoods.

[00:02:30]In social media post Nyamu maintained that Odhiambo had indeed benefited and received a motorcycle. However, documents seen by KTN indicate that the motorcycle currently used by Odhiambo was allegedly purchased by philanthropist C.W. John who says he stepped in to support the young entrepreneur towards self-reliance.

[00:02:50]>> So, I told him, "Go and make sure you file everything, get the plate and get the logbook." Which he finally later did.

[00:02:58]Yeah, and that's how uh Kama wa Kisumu yeah, Kama wa Kisumu came up cuz I remember I told him you're not working for me.

[00:03:06]Uh you're working for you.

[00:03:07]>> In a series of online posts, Nyamu acknowledged visiting the premises and defended her actions suggesting they were response to Odhiambo's criticism and remarks about the government.

[00:03:45]Efforts to reach the senator for an on-camera response were unsuccessful.

[00:03:49]Instead, she responded through her social media platforms where she continued to defend her position.

[00:03:55]>> The president invested so much money in that empowerment that you attended.

[00:04:09]>> Point one is filibuster. Second is an issue of morals. People tend to just say things they want.

[00:04:15]You know, people just pick anyhow the pride of our leaders simply because you're a member of parliament, you're a governor. You forget that you are literally a servant of the people.

[00:04:25]>> It is this cafe closer to Mama Lucy Hospital where Karen Nyamu is said to have come here with a large number of youth and they had a meal closer to 30,000 Kenyan shillings and failed to pay. And this motorcycle being at the center of the trouble.

[00:04:42]Herman Kamariki, KTN, Nairobi.