Millie Odhiambo reacts to Samburu East protests over claims that MP erected Ksh15M statue
By Nancy Marende, January 11, 2026Suba North Member of Parliament (MP) Millie Odhiambo has weighed in on protests by residents of Samburu East following claims that their MP, Jackson Lekuntare, erected a statue costing Ksh15 million outside a school.
In a statement on Saturday, January 10, 2026, Odhiambo expressed doubt over the quoted cost, saying residents may be exaggerating the value of the statue.
She argued that, based on its appearance, the structure could not realistically be worth the amount being mentioned, casting questions on the accuracy of the figures circulating in public.
“I think the residents of Samburu East may be exaggerating when they say that a statue of the MP Jackson Lekuntare mounted in front of a school is worth Ksh15million shillings. That thing can not even be worth Ksh100,000.00,” she stated.
Further, she criticised the practice of leaders erecting statues or branding development projects with their names or images, especially when such projects are funded using public resources. According to her, this is a bad precedent that undermines ethical leadership.
“That aside, it is bad practice for leaders to mount their photos or names to projects built or developed using public funds. EACC should stop this as a violation of Chapter 6 of the Constitution.”
The statue
Her remarks came shortly after residents of the Archer’s Post area, and a section of parents of Uaso Girls Secondary School in Samburu East, held protests against the erection of the statue.
The residents accuse those behind the project of misusing funds meant for development to put up the statue, which they claim cost Ksh15 million.
They are now calling on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate the matter.
“Kitu kubwa ni hiyo pesa kutumika kununua hiyo sanamu yenye iko ndani ya shule, na mkienda mtaona sanamu iko hapo. Na hata Rais wetu ambaye tunampenda Ruto hajawahi kuweka picha yake kwa pesa, hajaiweka State House, hajaiweka kwa shule anazojenga, na hata hajaiweka kwa affordable houses ambazo ziko hapa,” David Lokia, an area resident stated.
“Tena nimesikia hii sanamu ametengeneza na 15 million, na kuna watoto wanatarmack hapa. Hawapati bursary ya kwenda university, hawapati ya kwenda colleges. Na hiyo 15 million kama wangepatia watoto, si tungekuwa mbali,” a parent, Lenkopito Lepereko said.
However, the accused Member of Parliament and the school principal have dismissed claims about who funded the statue and the said cost.
“Ata mimi sijui ni ngapi, sina Habari, but we have never funded anything of that kind,” Samburu East MP Jackson Lekumontare told a local TV station on the phone.
“We were the ones as a school who decided that we were going to appreciate the school patron in our own way. We thought as a school we would appreciate him by installing that statue, and it has cost only Ksh150,000 using our own proceeds from the garden,” Uaso Girls Principal Julia Lesupeer stated.