This archive report was first published on 13 July 2020.
Published on July 13, 2020, Senator Millicent Omanga has been at the center of a controversy after city lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi dismissed her mkokoteni (cart) donations to some of Nairobi's poor youth as 'tokenism.'
Omanga, who is popularly known as 'mama miradi,' has however, maintained that her efforts were not futile, as she was in the process of 'changing lives.'
Netizens have largely supported the senator, with some arguing that even a little effort is better than nothing.
Omanga recently donated an assortment of goods to Nairobi's poor youth, which sparked a heated debate on social media.
City lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi urged Omanga to focus on empowering young people through effective policies in the Senate, rather than relying on 'tokenistic' donations.
Omanga responded by saying that she was in the process of 'changing lives' and that her efforts were not futile.
She also clapped back at Abdullahi, saying, "Good you have acknowledged I am in the 'streets' changing lives. To me that matters a lot, whether it's mama mboga (green grocers) or any other SME, I am in to empower and boost their businesses. Leadership is versatile so flip the coin."
Netizens have been divided on the issue, with some supporting Omanga's efforts and others criticizing her for not doing enough.
