This archive report was first published on 30 July 2019.
Embu Woman Representative Jane Wanjuki has been a victim of social media attacks and trolling since her election in August 2017. Despite being overwhelmingly elected on the Jubilee Party ticket with 95,435 votes, she has faced frequent online harassment and insults.
Recently, Wanjuki posted photos on her official Facebook page showing her donating bedding and gear to start small businesses for reformed street children. However, her critics claimed that one of the beneficiaries was a minor and questioned why she provided bedding instead of a shelter.
Wanjuki clarified that the beneficiaries were reformed street children who had approached her through their leaders, requesting assistance. She donated bedding to four reformed street children and capital for starting small businesses to about 15 other beneficiaries.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Makumi, was a married mother of two who had been helped by Wanjuki to rehabilitate children from the streets. Wanjuki explained that Mrs. Makumi was a born-again woman who had been helping to rehabilitate children from the streets.
Wanjuki had previously held a luncheon with the street children at her office, where they showcased their talents and raised issues such as joblessness, a place to rest, and education. Wanjuki pledged to work with their reformed leaders to provide school uniforms, pay school fees, and other necessary requirements for those ready to return to school.
She also pledged to give start-up capital to the most appealing and sustainable business ideas, which would be vetted by their leader with the help of her office. Wanjuki was surprised by the negative energy from her critics, despite rolling out the programme.
Through the National Government Affirmative Action Fund, Wanjuki had been providing avocado, mangoes, and macadamia seedlings to farmers since the onset of the rainfall season. She had also been issuing month-old kienyeji chicks and tents to groups to empower them.
However, her critics claimed that she collected Sh500 to register each individual who received a single seedling. Wanjuki stated that the seedlings distribution program was funded by the national government and that she issued them free of charge to farmers in all locations.
Wanjuki has been a successful businesswoman before joining politics and had also worked at Telkom Kenya for many years.
