Mama Mboga: Hussein Mohamed Did Not Push Me In Viral Video

It was the video that sparked outrage on social media with much of the heat directed to the Kenya Kwanza coalition for the wrongful treatment of the trader.

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Aug 8, 2022 - 16:27
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Mama Mboga: Hussein Mohamed Did Not Push Me In Viral Video
A collage of Hussein Mohamed walking beside mama mboga representative, Pauline Waithera. /VIRALTEAKE

Pauline Waithera, the trader from Kiambu County who was captured in a viral clip being allegedly pushed aside by former Citizen TV anchor, Hussein Mohamed, the William Samoei Ruto (WSR) Presidential Secretariat Director of Communications, before the presidential debate, broke her silence.

Waithera said on Monday, August 8 that she was not manhandled by Hussein at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa while being part of the entourage escorting Deputy President William Ruto to the auditorium for the highly-anticipated debate.

She further noted that Hussein was helping her cross a barrier by holding her hand and her back, which was eventually misinterpreted as being pushed off the entourage.

UDA Party presidential candidate and Deputy President William Ruto arrives at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa for the Presidential debate on July 26, 2022. /FILE

The trader also revealed that she was meant to be helped by former Digital Communications director at State House, Dennis Itumbi, but he forwarded the duties to Hussein, which suddenly generated confusion.

"As we were catching up with Ruto, there was a barrier which Hussein helped me cross by holding my hand and my back. This is what people interpreted as being chased from the press conference but I proceeded to join the DP, and I was treated very well," she explained.

"Itumbi was even told to act as my bodyguard. However, after the debate started, Itumbi handed me over to Hussein."

Waithera further noted that attending the debate was not part of her plans, but she received a call during her daily chores and was picked up by a convoy which ferried her to DP Ruto's official Karen residence on short notice.

"I was not planning on attending the debate. I was called by Karungo Wa Thang'wa and he asked me to report to Karen urgently. He called his driver to fetch me at home.

"I was taken to Ruto's home in Karen, and his handlers received me well. He was in a strategy meeting but we later left for Catholic University for the debate," she added.

In the 12-second long clip seen by Viral Tea and shared across social media platforms, Waithera was walking with DP Ruto to the venue of the debate before Hussein stopped her.

A frozen picture saw Hussein walking beside Pauline before the clip captured him bursting into the front out of the blue and shoving Waithera aside. Afterwards, DP Ruto's wife, Mama Rachel Ruto, appeared from behind and Hussein signalled to her to walk beside her husband.

It was the video that sparked outrage on social media with much of the heat directed to the Kenya Kwanza coalition for the wrongful treatment of the trader.

Waithera was representing the interests of the mama mboga community and Ruto explained that she accompanied him to the highly-secure event because she has been part of his campaign team.

"I met this great woman (Waithera) from Kiambu Market in Kangangi where I interacted with her in one of our economic forums discussing the economy of every county,” revealed Ruto.

Deputy President William Ruto, Rigathi Gachagua and Pauline Waithera, a trader. /FILE

Also in the entourage was Calvince Okoth, a boda-boda operator based in Kangemi, Dagoretti North whom the deputy described as “a great friend who runs his small hustle and constantly gives us support in the UDA office whenever we need somebody to transport something.”

The duo had memorably accompanied the leader of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to Bomas of Kenya on Saturday, June 4 when he appeared before the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for clearance to run for President in 2022.

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