X influencer Osama Otero has ignited a heated debate over what he calls “blatant double standards” in how Kenyans react to different tragedies.
In a post, Otero called out Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, questioning his loud advocacy for a Kenyan woman sentenced to death in Vietnam while remaining silent on a recent case where a man was allegedly killed by Super Metro crew over a fare dispute.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka during a past media interview. Photo: Citizen TV Kenya Source: Facebook
“Mtu aliuliwa na Super Metro mmenyamaza. Dem amepatikana akisafirisha drugs mnabanja nikama world war hadi kina Onyonka wanalia. Tumieni akili bana,” Otero posted, drawing hundreds of reactions from Kenyans who either agreed with his sentiments or defended the senator’s stance.
The post referred to the tragic incident where a Nairobi man was reportedly thrown out of a moving Super Metro bus after a disagreement over a Ksh 30 fare balance.
Despite public outcry, no major political figures, including Onyonka, have addressed the matter with the same urgency as the case of Margaret Nduta Macharia, a 37-year-old Kenyan sentenced to death in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, over drug trafficking charges.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka gestures during a past event. Photo: NTV Kenya Source: X
Onyonka, in his appeal to President William Ruto, insisted that Macharia deserved a chance to be repatriated and serve her sentence in Kenya.
“This is a matter of life and death. We cannot sit back and watch a fellow Kenyan face execution in a foreign land. I am urging the government to intervene immediately,” Onyonka wrote in his open letter.
His strong stance on the matter has sparked mixed reactions, with some supporting his efforts while others, like Otero, feel that Kenyan lives should matter equally regardless of the circumstances.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka during a past media interview. Photo: Spice FM Source: Facebook
Otero’s comments have fueled a broader debate on whether public figures and the government selectively choose which cases to amplify.
While some Twitter users supported his call for fairness, others argued that drug trafficking is a serious international crime, making Macharia’s case more complex than a local transport dispute.
As the debate rages on, Onyonka has yet to respond to Otero’s direct criticism.
Meanwhile, Kenyans continue to demand justice for the Super Metro victim, questioning why certain cases receive nationwide attention while others are quickly forgotten.
