Winnie Odinga is a daughter to opposition leader Raila Odinga but unlike her sister Rosemary who gave a moving oration after her brother Fidel Odinga died, she is a mystery.
There is a very faint trail of her life since there is not much on social media or TV about her or any political leanings.
Well, she has made a grand entry by scathingly patronising the Kenyan middle class for their contribution to making Kenya poor. This, it seems, is worse than all the corruption that has happened in consecutive Kenyan governments. Under her father, Cord leader Raila Odinga during the grand coalition government, particularly the ‘Kazi Kwa Vijana’ programme, could not account for billions allocated to benefit the youth. This is not to make some corruption look better but corruption is evil regardless of who perpetuates it. I digress…
Back to Winnie and to the post her brother Raila Odinga Junior shared.
Her remarks targeting the Kenyan middle class for what she calls ‘online chastism’ of the lower class’ right to protest is the most disgusting, elitist thing I’ve ever seen in my life and I simply cannot believe this is Kenya seem detached for a person trying to bat for this disadvantaged lot.
She says: “It reminds me of the French statement “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche” or in English “let them eat cake.” Supposedly spoken by a French Princess upon learning that the peasants had no bread. It is a complete lack of understanding to believe that people take to the streets because they are “commanded” to do so by politicians or the uppity assumption that they are unable to reason simply because they are lower class.”
I, however, agree with her that “It is disdainful and elitist to refer to poverty stricken people as “dear stupid Kenyans.”
But she continues, “I mean honestly, do you think the lady you pay to wash your underwear, clean your floors and bathe your children that you know very well has two children of her own but you insist on paying 10,000 shillings a month doesn’t have anger inside her? Do you think that by making your children call her “auntie” and letting her have Sunday off to go to Church is a satisfactory way of living for her?”
Oblivious to how life is in Kenya, she continues: “Middle class Kenya needs to wake up. Every time you pay someone less than 50,000 shillings a month you are responsible for creating a home in the slum. Surprised? Or did you think 12,500 would afford your househelp (sic) a chalet in Muthaiga? A lady in Mukuru kwa Njenga, Mathare, Kangemi, who believes her vote was stole(n) is 100% capable of reasoning that this electoral commission must go. A commission that is directly responsible for forcing upon a corrupt, tribalistic, elitist government.”
Take a seat and hear this: “Just peer out of the tinted window of your Subaru to see all the people you splash water on when it rains. That is real Kenya. Life isn’t always Village Market, Mercury or Nakumatt Junction, real life in Kenya will not be shown on Netflix it will not be televised. Real life is in the streets and if you ever stood up for anything a day in your life you would know how important this struggle is for your fellow man that is unable to provide.”
She also has praised her father and insisted that the middle class read Raila’s autobiography “The Flame of Freedom” to get rid of the ignorance on these “unlawful protests”.
The comments to this have ranged from flattery to insults but the truth is, no privileged person will ever understand the reality of the poor. And for Winnie sharing this shows how uninformed she is when it comes to the real Kenya.
But who am I to judge? I could be wrong…