Nairobi County CEC Geoffrey Mosiria has taken a swipe at leaders who hand out festive goodies to Kenyans, calling the practice “cheap PR” that benefits politicians more than the people.
In a post on X, Mosiria argued that many leaders use free or near-expiry flour as a photo opportunity, while citizens queue for hours under the sun.
“The leader did not grow the maize, did not mill it, and in many cases did not even buy it. Yet they smile for the camera as if they personally sacrificed everything for the people,” he wrote.
Mosiria also pointed out the economic cost to citizens.
He said a person spending a day waiting for a packet of flour worth KSh 140 could instead earn KSh 300, meaning the people lose more than they gain while leaders score headlines.
He stressed that real leadership is about creating opportunities, education, and systems that make handouts unnecessary.
“Real leadership is not measured by how many packets of unga are distributed. It is measured by how many people no longer need them,” Mosiria said.
The CEC’s remarks have sparked debate online, with many questioning whether festive handouts truly help citizens or just serve political interests.