This archive report was first published on 13 November 2019.
November 12, 2019, was a day that Raila Junior Odinga's Twitter account will not soon forget. The son of opposition leader Raila Odinga sparked a heated debate on the social media platform after calling for a ban on washing cars by the roadside in Nairobi's upmarket areas.
Junior Odinga shared an image of a young man washing a car by the roadside accompanied by the caption: 'At the risk of sounding unpopular I wish there was a bylaw that made it illegal to wash your car at the roadside in #Lavington.'
While some users agreed with him, a majority condemned him for what they termed as disregard for the many jobless youth who have resorted to manual jobs like washing cars to make a living.
Junior Odinga argued that car washing bays should be restricted to certain areas, further saying it was 'ludicrous' to have people washing cars wherever they wish.
He added: 'Nairobi county is mandated to create safe car washing bays, this idea of someone popping up a carwash where ever they feel like is ludicrous.'
However, many users were quick to point out that Junior Odinga's comments were insensitive to the struggles of jobless youth who rely on such jobs to make ends meet.
As one user put it: 'Young men are eking out an honest living and doing their best to survive in this difficult Nairobi but a blue blood who doesn't know what it means to go hungry wants them kicked out his pretty neighbourhood.'
Another user added: 'Let the poor do what they have to do anyhow. That guy will make his clean Sh100 without letting anyone die for their own benefit. That is how he will take care of his family.'
Junior Odinga's comments sparked a heated debate on Twitter, with many users calling him out for his insensitive views.
