Raila Junior’s tweet on car wash businesses in Kilimani attracts online fury

ODM leader Raila Odinga’s son, Raila Junior, has whipped up online storm after he called for roadside car wash businesses in Kilimani to be closed.

Junior took to his Twitter page on Tuesday, and shared a picture of a young man washing a vehicle on the roadside in Lavington. His caption of the image read: “At the risk of sounding unpopular, I wish there was a by-law that made it illegal to wash your car at the roadside in #Lavington.”

Several Twitter users took to the platform to fault Junior over his remarks, saying he is unable to understand people’s “hustle”, given he comes from a wealthy and influential family.

@Ian_Muli93 said: “You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, literally. You have no idea what it is like not knowing where your next meal is going to come from. Shida yako ni ‘illegal car wash on the roadside in Lavington’. Those car wash [businesses] put food on tables of hundreds of families.”

@MutichiloMike said: “While the whole nation is angry at police brutality, here is a privileged kid angry at a guy washing a car to make a living. This country is under State capture!”

@NickMidia said: “Start by passing laws to uplift the standards of living of poor people before you pass those that deny them daily bread. Think.”

@iamzelipher said: “Next time try putting yourself in that person’s shoe and come up with a solution that could work for his case too, not a solution that suits only you. Maybe then you’ll not sound like someone who has a special room in their house for car washing purposes only.”

@SosstenKipchumba said: “Dynasties don’t want to see hustlers within their hood, ushindwe Junior, najua unajiuliza magari madogo yanafanya mini Lavington.”

However, there is a section of the online users, who echoed Junior’s school of thought.

@tileomosh said: “I agree with you, I know many people will bash you, but they don’t know zoning regulations. As a planner, I understand your point, and it is high time this city strictly follows zoning regulations.”

@dnjaga said: “These responses are sad, we are sweeping an important issue under the carpet just because of the background of the person. Car wash should be confined to specific areas, where waste is managed because it is hazardous to the environment and to people.”

Hadiyya Q. said: “Joblessness is not an excuse to fill every empty space with makeshift food kiosks and car wash places. They must be in controlled areas. Look at Yaya Centre and [its] environs becoming an eyesore. Let us be real. Kazi na mpango.” 

Following extensive flak directed his way, Junior responded, saying: “People need to understand that adherence to laws and policies apply to everyone, it is not about being privileged.

“This city needs law and order, proper zoning and safety standards. These are the difficult conversations we need to have. Nairobi County is mandated to create safe car washing bays, this idea of someone popping up a car wash wherever they feel like is ludicrous. Simba Arati and Mike Sonko, where is the law and order and zoning?”