Otiende Amollo Clarifies NTV Tweet on Him Being Broke

Rarieda MP, Otiende Amollo, on Tuesday, sought to clarify a tweet by NTV the previous week which quoted him lamenting over how his being a legislator was negatively impacting his finances.

During a panel discussion on NTV, former Kakamega Senator, Boni Khalwale, called out the MP to resign if the job was making him broke.

"If he's broke, so what? Being broke is a personal issue. There are many Kenyans who are broke right now. The person who requested the MP to resign, should actually be the MP for Rarieda," Khalwale challenged.

In response, the ODM legislator stated that the tweet by NTV, the previous week, was taken out of context adding the Khalwale was present during the previous panel discussion to establish what he conveyed at the time.

Affirmatively, Otiende stated, "What I said, and even you were here (referring to Khalwale) was that my colleagues should understand we go to Parliament to serve our constituents not to earn."

He added, "When in that entire interview, the only tweet that arises is that 'I have never been as broke' is out of context."

Referring to Khalwale's new political allegiance to DP William Ruto's team, Otiende stated that money was not an issue to the politician.

"It is understandable you have recently joined a team where money is no longer an issue, but some of us who are serving, money is an issue but it that is not to say we are poor," he explained.

Echoing his sentiments, Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi, faulted Khalwale for pushing a narrative against currently elected leaders by picking snippets of quotes to suit an agenda.

In the earlier interview, Otiende confessed that being a legislator had caused a strain on his wallet.

"I have been the Ombudsman and I have also been in private practice. I have never been broke like I am now as an MP. By the time I was elected, I already had my house in Nairobi, but since I got into office I haven't bought a house, I've hardly bought anything," he stated.