Joyce Atieno Bensuda, the Woman Representative for Homa Bay County, has found herself in an embarrassing situation after being exposed for using ChatGPT to write a condolence message for the late Hon. Charles Ong’ondo Were. What was supposed to be a moment to express sympathy turned into a public relations disaster after screenshots of her conversation with the AI tool were posted online.
Instead of writing the message herself, she asked ChatGPT to generate different options and even the AI asked which one she preferred. This made many people feel that the message lacked genuine emotion and that she treated a serious moment like a casual assignment.
The first wave of backlash came from an X user named @Thriving_luos, who criticized Bensuda for surrounding herself with sycophants instead of using the many skilled and unemployed youths in Homa Bay. He shared screenshots of her ChatGPT interaction and said it was time leaders started working with real professionals.
This sentiment caught on quickly, with many agreeing that her actions showed laziness and a lack of seriousness. The fact that she couldn’t take time to personally write a simple condolence message raised questions about her ability to connect with the people she represents.
Another X user, @kachwanya, added to the criticism by mocking her, saying she had embarrassed herself internationally. He posted a screenshot showing her asking ChatGPT which message sounded better, followed by the AI choosing one and explaining why.
This situation has opened up a serious debate about the use of AI in leadership communication. While tools like ChatGPT can help with writing, using them for sensitive issues like death and mourning feels cold and robotic and most importantly laziness and inconvenience.
People want leaders who can relate to them emotionally, especially during tough times.
There are many young people in Homa Bay with the skills to write professional and heartfelt messages, but instead of giving them a chance, Bensuda turned to artificial intelligence.
What could have been a respectful tribute to a fellow leader ended up as a source of national shame. Many are now questioning her commitment, her leadership style, and her connection to the people she serve. The backlash is not about being against technology, but about expecting leaders to be real and sincere.
There are are also emerging questions as to whether she even reads the bills before parliament, if a small condolences message can turn to be this messy.
