‘They are Just Doing Their Job’ Oga Obinna Backs Government Influencers

Comedian and media personality Oga Obinna has weighed in on the ongoing social media debate regarding influencers allegedly being paid to campaign for the government, dismissing the outrage as hypocritical.

Speaking on his show, Obinna questioned why Kenyans are angered by influencers earning a living from their trade. “I have seen there is a conversation happening on social media, people are saying influencers have been paid to campaign for the government,” Obinna said. “If they have been paid, what’s the problem? They are influencers and that’s their work. Why are you mad that they are being paid? Use your mind.“

Obinna drew comparison to public sector workers, arguing that the same critics do not ask their relatives in government service to resign. “Have you told your parents who are teachers and police officers to quit because they are working for the government?” he asked.

He further challenged the selective nature of the criticism, noting that the same influencers would be celebrated if they campaigned for opposition figures.

“If the same influencers start campaigning for Babu Owino, Rigathi, Sifuna and Matiangi, now it’s the right thing to do. Let’s stop being like that,” he said.

Obinna criticised what he described as a culture of selective outrage, stating that Kenyans are often “very entitled to unnecessary things.” His remarks come amid heightened scrutiny over the role of digital content creators in political messaging, with questions raised about transparency and the ethics of paid political influence.