Kenyans angered after Uhuru failed to order beds from viral artisan

– Meshack Otieno went viral on social media with his unique locally assembled hospital beds

– On Wednesday, July 15, the Presidential Delivery Unit visited another team of artisans in Githunguri who make similar beds

– The team was awarded a tender by the president to deliver 500 hospital beds for use in government facilities

– Meshack said he will be very grateful if he too can be given an order or have the order divided between the two groups

When President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered for 500 beds from artisans who had assembled unique hospital beds on Wednesday, July 15, Kenyans congratulated him for the bold step in promoting innovation among youths.

Little known to many, the order had been given to a different group of youthful innovators led by Mungai Gathogo and Joseph Muhinja based at Githunguri in Kiambu county.

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Githunguri-based group of youthful innovators when they were visited by Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) on Wednesday, July 15. Photo: PDU
Source: Twitter

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Interestingly, the artisan who went viral on social media and who also makes similar beds was one Meshack Otieno who is based in Juja.

When contacted by our team for comment over the ‘huge deal’ he had landed, Otieno thought TUKO.co.ke was the one ordering for 500 beds from him.

He had no idea the president had given out the tender to a different group of innovators.

Asked whether he knew the other youths who were given the tender, Otieno said he has never seen them nor met them and that his workshop is in Juja and not in Githunguri.

Meshack Otieno (in red shirt) with his three artisans at their workplace on Wednesday, July 15. Photo: TUKO.co.ke
Source: Original

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“I have not been given any order by anybody. Yes, I do work with seven guys but today we are only four of us and we have not been visited by any government official,” he said.

While commending the government for the bold move, Meshack said his only plea was that he too be given an order to deliver the beds or at least the tender be divided between him and the Githunguri group.

“I am actually the one who went viral on social media, I am the one who took video of one of my guys eating on one of the beds illustrating how it works, I too should be considered and be given an order.

“Even if it means we divide the order, it’s okay, at least we all shall have received something out of it,” he said.

Meshack Otieno relaxing on one of his beds. Notably, the bed has a small table attached for feeding patients. Photo: TUKO.co.ke
Source: Original

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Notably, the discrepancy was also noticed by Kenyans on social media who quickly pointed out the order had been given to the ‘wrong’ group of innovators.

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