This archive report was first published on 8 August 2019.
Rwanda Jails Kenyan Motivational Speakers Over Misunderstood Event ¶
On June 25th, 2019, internationally renowned motivational speaker Dr. Kinuthia Charles, aka CK, and his team arrived in Rwanda to hold a wealth conference in Kigali. The event aimed to train and educate thousands of youths on business principles and entrepreneurship.
However, things took an unexpected turn when the Rwandan Police stormed in to stop the event, alleging it was a fraud scheme. Charles Kinuthia, Vivian KHISA MUKWHAN, Rachel Matipei, Muhamad Niyonkuru, and 12 other Rwandese nationals were taken to court and charged under Article 174 and 225 of the penal code on fraud and holding an illegal meeting.
According to investigations by Kenya Insights, the story has taken a sharp turn after it emerged that the Rwanda nationals accused alongside the Kenyans have since been released without being charged. This has sparked a diplomatic row between Kenya and Rwanda.
Dr. Kinuthia, a PhD holder based in US Texas, has been running an online Wealth Fitness Course (entrepreneurship) where a fee is charged. The authorities alleged that the event organizers asked attendees to pay USD 197 on completion of the talk, which was communicated through the invite email.
However, investigations conducted by Kenya Insights and documents in their hold show a different story. The organizers claimed that the event was free, but the benefits would be walking away with the exact value of the course without paying for it. The misunderstanding arose from the seats where restrictions had to be put due to the unexpected numbers.
Organizers had put up a seat reservation program, which has now become the point of contention. In an email obtained by Kenya Insights, the organizers explained that seating was limited, and purchasing a package was not required but highly encouraged. They also clarified that no cash would be issued at the event, and a free online course worth USD 197 would be emailed to attendees who stayed till the end of the day.
As it stands, the three Kenyans are still being held, while the Rwandan nationals have been cleared and released under unclear circumstances. This has led to a call for the Rwandan High Commissioner in Kenya to intervene and have talks with his counterpart in Kigali to prevent the situation from escalating further.
