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Bernard Njoroge has dismissed claims that he has slapped by the President. Photo: Collins Kweyu
It was sideshows galore during the chaotic homecoming of President Uhuru Kenyatta from the status conference at the ICC last week.
Besides cows slowing down the presidential motorcade around Embakasi, spectators and viewers following the proceedings from every corner of taifa tukufu were treated to drama when around Machakos Country Bus Station, a man emerged from the crowd and tried touching the president.
The president swung his hand in a manner interpreted by many as a slap.
“I was disturbed and surprised at the claims by the media that the president had slapped me,” Bernard Njoroge, the chairman of touts at the Machakos Country Bus told The Nairobian.
The ‘man in a white shirt’ captured on camera being roughed up by the president’s security detail added that, “I was walking to the presidential car with Starehe MP Maina Kamanda and the security tried to stop me, but I told them that I had to greet the president.”
The security detail pushed him and the commotion caught the president’s eye upon which he instructed them saying, “Wacheni akuje, nyinyi hamjui watu wangu wa zamani.”
“I know the president personally and we go way back to 2002 when he was still in Kanu. As a matter of fact, I even accompanied him to numerous campaign trips around Nairobi last year,” explains Bernard, who claims to be a preacher when not working at the ‘Machakos Airport.’
“So, when he saw me being manhandled, he called me by name and ordered that I be allowed to shake his hand. His personal secretary, Jomo Gecaga, ensured that I shook the president’s hand.”
He says the president didn’t slap him. “What happened is that there was a very short woman next to the car who is a very good friend of the President, and he swung his hand to shake the woman’s hand. There was no slap, that’s speculative propaganda.”
Bernard says that being the chairman of the touts meant he was under pressure to ensure the president made a stopover to address the people.
“The youth were calling my name and there is no way I could have turned down this request. Given the chance, I will do the same thing,” he says.
