Lee Kinyanjui, the nominee for the Trade Cabinet Secretary position, has strongly refuted allegations suggesting that during his tenure as Nakuru Governor, his administration rounded up street children and abandoned them in the hyena-infested Embobut Forest in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Kinyanjui, who appeared before the Committee on Appointments for his vetting, labeled the accusations as “pure fiction,” asserting that they were concocted by political opponents intent on tarnishing his reputation. These claims originated from a 2020 Senate report that had raised concerns about Nakuru’s elevation to city status, alleging that street children were discarded in Embobut and Chemasusu forests in 2019 as part of a controversial effort to fast-track the city’s upgrade.
Dismissing the allegations as baseless, Kinyanjui questioned their authenticity. “This country has the best intelligence in the region, so how come no one has ever come forward with credible evidence?” he asked, emphasizing the lack of any substantial witnesses or verification for the story. He added, “Serving Kenya should never be about personal gain, but about opportunities to contribute to the nation’s growth.”
He went further to challenge the individuals behind the accusations, suggesting that the allegations were politically motivated. “How come only a few individuals, known to specific political figures, have been associated with these claims? And where are the families of the children who are allegedly involved? These claims are entirely fabricated,” he said.
Kinyanjui also expressed confidence in his own actions, stating that he had “a clear conscience” and would never have been involved in such a matter. He suggested that the allegations had a political agenda, pointing to those behind the claims as having personal interests in his downfall.
The 2021 Senate report, which prompted an investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), accused Nakuru county officials of gathering 41 street children and abandoning them in the Chemasusu Forest in Baringo, allegedly as part of efforts to secure the city status for Nakuru. Johnson Sakaja, then a senator and chair of the Senate Labor Committee, had presented the report, claiming that the children were removed from the streets to improve the city’s image in the run-up to its elevation to city status.
In 2021, Nakuru was officially granted city status by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, becoming Kenya’s fourth city. Kinyanjui, who served as Nakuru’s governor for one term, lost in the 2022 election and has since been nominated for the Trade Cabinet Secretary position in the current government.