Auma Obama's Begging Comments About Kenyans Lands Her in Trouble with Online Users
Former United States President Barack Obama's sister, Auma has landed herself in trouble with Kenyan social media users over her begging remarks.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV's Opinion Court on Thursday night, Ms Obama criticized Kenyans' behavior of always relying on aid instead of working hard to change their lives.
Auma, who had been invited to shed light on his brother's upcoming tour to Kenya, said Obama can't solve the country's problems as Kenyans expect him to.
“It is true Obama is coming to Kenya. He has done something, I have done something I can show the world. What have you done? Are we just waiting for the arrival of Obama so that we say we can be helped?
“Guys we need to get up and start working, do something to leave a legacy,” she said, adding that their people in Nyanza are fond of gonya (a luo term for borrowing behaviour).
Her sentiments seems to have rubbed some Kenyan online users in the wrong way. Blogger Robert Alai termed her remarks as uncalled for.
“Talking about "Gonya", you realise that Auma Obama has that UGLY attitude of the extended Obama family. To her, Luos are just going to beg Obama nothing more. Now all the K'Ogelo people are just beggars and that's what she could see beyond the many issues she could have addressed,” blogger Robert Alai tweeted on Friday.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party communication director, Philip Etale said: “Auma, did you have to say all that about your people? Where I come from we say, humble yourself and you will be blessed. Even the Holy bible talks about humility. Your presser on Barrack Obama's visit was full of self-praise & unnecessary braggadocio akin to a baby eating chapo."
Another netizen felt aggrieved given Obama, either way, did not help Kenyans during his eight year term as US president, adding that his coming would not make a difference.
“So Dr. Auma Obama warned Kenyans that his brother was not coming to dish handouts to beggars, In Luo "gonya" or in Luhya "mbekho"! What she forgot is that Kenyans have lived all along without Obama's help and even when he was the POTUS he never assisted Kenyans in any way!,” another user Lloyd Onyango noted.
Jams Miyomo said: “Who told Auma Obama that we are waiting for his step brothers to come and give us handouts?”
User Jevans Omonge didn't see any problem in Auma's sentiments. He said: "Why crime did Auma Obama commit? The lady has great initiative. The problem is that our people, hate the truth, and self-critique. As a people we need to be candid and offer viable solutions not living in denial.”