Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda under fire for launching a sub-standard office
National
By
Winfrey Owino
| Sep 19, 2023
Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda has elicited mixed reactions online after images of him launching a sub-standard office emerged on the internet.
The Standard has established that the lawmaker was launching an office for the Achego sub-location assistant chief in Kisumu County.
In the images that have now gone viral, Ojienda is captured addressing an audience with a public address system, after which he is given a pair of scissors to cut the ribbon, officially launching the office.
However, what captured the attention of many netizens was the standard of the office he was launching for the state officer.
The office had iron sheet walls and roofing, with a loosely fitted wooden door and an un-cemented floor with visible spaces in between the wall and the floor.
"There are signs of development that you can see. And that is why I say I will always stand with the government because the government is the only way that you can bring development to your people," Ojienda is captured on video telling his audience.
This raised questions among internet users.
“What a disgrace!” David Andera, an X user reacted.
“I don’t know if the leaders we have do things intentionally to see Kenyans' reactions or what. How can this be called an office? This country, by all means, needs to be serious. William Ruto is out there convincing investors to invest in Kenya but here, everything is a joke. Even cowsheds these days have some class.” Another user, Bobby VJ commented.
“Development from State House, Good job,” Smith Legrande said sarcastically.
“The bar is always extremely low in the Kenyan political space,” says Sitati Wasilwa.
While addressing his audience in Achego, Ojienda reiterated that he will not stop working with the Kenya Kwanza leadership to bring development to his people.
As of the time of publishing this article, the Senator had not commented on the video on any of his social media pages.
Having been elected on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party ticket, Ojienda has been in trouble with his party leadership for supporting the ruling party’s development agenda.
He and six others were recently suspended by the party’s top organ for Gross Misconduct.
Others suspended from the party for meeting the president at State House are Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Felix Odiwuor ‘Jalang’o’ (Lang’ata) and Caroli Omondi (Suba South).