This archive report was first published on 16 July 2020.
Kiambu Youth Awarded 500-Bed Tender Had Run for Senatorial Seat ¶
On July 15, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered the government to purchase 500 unique hospital beds from Mungai Gathogo and Joseph Muhinja, two young innovators from Kiambu.
However, the president's order sparked controversy on social media, with many Kenyans criticizing the government for not awarding the tender to Meshack Otieno, another artisan from Juja who had also gone viral for his innovative hospital beds.
Gathogo, 26, confirmed that he had indeed run for the Kiambu senatorial seat in 2017 but dropped out at the primaries.
Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, Gathogo explained that he had started his business over three weeks ago, selling sanitizers and face masks before deciding to venture into making hospital beds due to their high demand.
He also revealed that he had posted his beds on his Facebook page without knowing that Meshack Otieno was also making similar items.
When asked if his political interests had anything to do with the tender, Gathogo denied any involvement, stating that he was a supporter of Deputy President William Ruto and had not even invited government officials to his workshop.
On July 16, Gathogo visited the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to begin the process of getting his beds evaluated to meet standards before mass production.
