What was projected to be a life-changing opportunity for a 17-year-old Narok boy who gifted former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, a magnificent miniature State House, turned out to be a disappointing ordeal for his mother.
The single mother, speaking to Nation Africa on Tuesday, May 24, noted that she was disappointed that her son was not recognised for his masterpiece.
She explained that the disappointment was because her son - Wellington Otieno - did not receive the much-needed recognition even after presenting the dummy State House, which even had a national flag, to Raila during a rally in Narok.
"I was saddened when I saw it being reported that a group of youth from Narok gifted Raila the 'State House' yet it was my son who made it single-handedly," she told Nation.
However, she was optimistic that her son will have a chance to present the gift to his favourite presidential candidate. According to the Form Three student at Masikonde Day Secondary School, on the outskirts of Narok town, he still wants to present the gift to a candidate who will (according to Otieno) win the August 9 presidential election.
"I still want to present this gift to him in person so that he keeps it until he ascends to the real State House. I would also love to visit the real State House and even meet the current occupant, President Uhuru Kenyatta," Otieno stated.
The firstborn in a family of three revealed that he was always banking on his talent to one day fend for his family and handing his biggest project to the ODM leader was poised to be a breakthrough for him but his desires never came to pass.
The idea of making the State House miniature was hatched in 2019 when he was a Form One student.
"I have made several artworks such as buses and I have made a model of my dream house, but the ‘State House' was my biggest project," he explained.
Raila received the miniature in Narok while accompanied by Narc Kenya party leader, Martha Karua, explaining that it symbolises their future in taking over from President Uhuru Kenyatta.
"That will be my residence and Martha will have an office inside it. Come we take a photo with our State House," Raila stated while receiving the miniature.
