Nairobi — Nairobi County Assembly member and well-known blogger Robert Alai has stepped in to defend fellow politician Mwalimu Otero, calling out what he sees as unfair criticism from Kenyans who, he says, do not understand the pressures of political life.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Alai painted a vivid picture of the daily strain many elected leaders face as they juggle multiple roles — from attending committee sessions to addressing issues in their constituencies.
“You people don’t know the crazy life of a politician moving between constituency matters to the assembly and probably still supposed to even attend some committees elsewhere,” Alai wrote.
He went on to say that the public’s growing resentment towards politicians has clouded their judgement. “From your hate of politicians, you attack Mwalimu Otero while not even trying to understand what he was going through,” he added.
Otero, a member of the county assembly, has recently faced a wave of online criticism over his performance, with some Kenyans accusing him of neglecting his duties. Alai, however, argued that such conclusions are often made without a full grasp of the workload and expectations placed on elected leaders.
“You really think representation and oversight is an easy matter?” he asked rhetorically, insisting that the role of an MCA goes far beyond public appearances. “You people need to carefully understand and not fall for the ignorant judgement of politician by those desperate for attention.”
Alai, who represents Kileleshwa Ward, said his own experience in public office has changed his perspective. “I have come to understand some of these things because I live it every day,” he concluded.
His remarks have sparked debate online, with some Kenyans agreeing that politicians face overwhelming demands, while others maintain that accountability should never be compromised by busy schedules.
As political discussions continue to heat up ahead of 2027 elections, Alai’s comments highlight a growing divide between public expectations and the realities of governance in Kenya’s devolved system.
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