Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)'s Director of Communication Philip Etale on Monday, June 1, responded to backlash after launching a mud house project in Lugari constituency.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, the media practitioner explained that the project which he launched on Saturday, May 30, was for a widow with six children whose house had been swept away by floods.
"Locals reached out to me and highlighted the plight of the widow who was living in her mother's kitchen with her six children after her house was washed away," he told this writer.
He added that he had attended the funeral of his friend, ex-rugby Sevens player Allan Makaka in Shinyalu when he was informed that the project was complete and ready to be launched.
"I didn't want my name put on the structure but the widow insisted because everyone else had abandoned her," Etale conveyed.
He added that the label would be removed after a couple of days noting that the widow now had a place to live after the construction was over.
"We bought her utensils, beddings, and other household products so that she can live comfortably with her children," he added.
The ODM spokesperson further addressed the outrage sparked online by labelling of the house.
One user, Millicent noted, "I know politicians will do anything possible to gain political mileage but the branding of names should be restricted to public structures only like public toilets, boreholes, and schools."
Etale responded by stating that he had done numerous projects for widows and youth in the area.
"Widows are basically abandoned by the rest of the family and so these people instead of spreading hate online should also have projects for the vulnerable in the society,"
He added that he had done projects including, chicken projects for their sustenance and also putting up housing structures for the widows in the constituency.
