Speaking during a public engagement, the legislator argued that the model has strayed far from its promise of empowering hustlers.
Instead, he claimed it has been manipulated to serve those at the top of the political hierarchy.
According to Babu, the slogan has “two meanings” that expose its real intentions.
“When money is taken from the people and ends up in State House, then that is not bottom-up—it is exploitation,” he stated.
He added that the second meaning of the phrase is even more deceptive, accusing leaders of using ordinary citizens for political appearances.
Babu explained that young people, women, and even the elderly are mobilised and taken to political events, only to return home with nothing of real value.
The MP went further to mock empowerment programmes such as distributing motorbikes to youths.
He gave an example where 50 young men are promised a motorbike worth KSh100,000. If divided equally, he said, each youth would be left with the equivalent of only KSh2,000.
“How is that empowerment? That is just a political trick,” Babu noted.
His comments reflect a wider sense of frustration among Kenyans who feel that the bottom-up agenda has not delivered the changes it promised.
Despite the initial excitement, the cost of living remains high, unemployment continues to affect many young people, and the gap between the rich and poor appears to be widening.
Babu positioned himself as a defender of the common citizen, promising to continue exposing what he sees as empty promises and hypocrisy.
He warned that Kenyans should not be blinded by projects that only serve as photo opportunities for leaders but bring no lasting impact.
Tags
Politics