West Pokot Governor Explains 'Mulmulwas' Phrase

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Nyakundi Report

Newsroom 2 min read

Primary source Kenyan Digest archive

This archive report was first published on 17 August 2019.

Published on August 17, 2019, West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo has shed light on the humorous 'Kijana fupi round' phrase that has been making waves in Kenya.

The governor, who coined the phrase in March this year, explained that it refers to individuals who are good at doing nothing and become a nuisance in all they do.

Speaking during an interview with news anchor Betty Kyallo on K24's 'Up close with Betty' show, Governor Lonyangapuo outlined the unique qualities of a 'Mulmulwas', saying it is anyone who is good at doing nothing and becomes a nuisance in the way they work, walk, talk, and behave.

“Mulmulwas is anybody who is good at doing nothing, becomes a nuisance in the way he works, walks, talks even in the way he behaves. You are equivalent to a dung beetle that rotates dung that is not useful to anybody, not useful even to that thing called Mulmulwas. You can even see how the beetle is round, short and hopeless,” said Governor Lonyangapuo.

He added that anyone whose manners and behaviors are only to become a nuisance to the government, people, neighbors, parents to their children can be referred to as a 'Mulmulwas'. The phrase was initially used to deride activist Dennis Ruto Kapchok, who had questioned why deputy governor Nicholas Atudonyang works from the United States of America.

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