- Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi posted a photograph of himself holding onto the side of a presidential-style SUV during a visit to Elgeyo-Marakwet County
- The image divided Kenyans online, with some questioning his portrayal of development and others raising concerns about his parliamentary record
- Sudi appeared to respond to the criticism by sharing a nostalgic post about his early days working on a matatu in the 1990s
Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi set social media ablaze after sharing a photograph of himself clinging to the side of President William Ruto’s black Toyota Land Cruiser as it moved along a dusty rural road in Elgeyo-Marakwet county on Tuesday, October 13.
Source: Facebook
In the image, Sudi was dressed in a patterned blue-and-white shirt, black trousers, blue sneakers and a black cap, which he held aloft in one hand.
The vehicle bore the Kenyan coat of arms and a national flag, with a convoy of other black SUVs visible behind it.
The post quickly split opinion online.
Some users questioned what development the visit was meant to showcase, while others raised concerns about his attendance record in parliament.
Debate also swirled around the choice of vehicles in the convoy, with the discussion soon moving beyond the photograph itself into wider questions about leadership and accountability.
What did Sudi say about working as tout?
Rather than ignore the noise, Sudi appeared to address it head-on on Wednesday, October 14, through a post on his Instagram Stories.
He shared two images side by side, one from his earlier years standing next to a matatu, and the other showing him on the presidential SUV.
The caption alongside the images read:
"Oscar Sudi from hanging on a matatu to hanging on a presidential official car. Some people will call him names but for me I know this is God and people like Sudi have come from far. Not anyone can hang on that car."
The post carried extra weight given Sudi's well-documented backstory. In the 1990s, he started out as a tout on the Eldoret-Kesses matatu route before working his way up to becoming a driver.
He later saved enough to buy his own Peugeot 504 matatu, expanded into other business ventures, and eventually made the leap into politics, winning the Kapseret parliamentary seat.
For Sudi, the side-by-side images were clearly meant to illustrate a personal journey, contrasting where he started with where he now stands. Whether his critics found the comparison compelling is another matter entirely.
Source: Instagram
What did Jalang’o say about entering boot?
In other news, Lang’ata MP Jalang’o explained why he entered the rear section of a presidential security vehicle during Ruto’s Nyanza tour.
He clarified that the vehicle had seats and was part of the security convoy.
The MP said his transport had already left, forcing him to find another way to travel.
Source: TUKO.co.ke