John Methu, the Senator of Nyandarua, has sparked a debate after making a humorous statement about his beard, relating it to the political life he is going through and the challenges of leadership in Kenya.
Speaking in an interview with Citizen TVMethu said that even within his family there have been discussions about his appearance, especially from his wife who has been asking him to cut the beard.
“We are in the forest, we are in the struggle” – Methu
Methu used the language of metaphors to describe his political life, saying that leaders are going through a difficult environment that does not allow them to pay much attention to the external appearance.
“Sometimes my wife tells me I need to shave this beard, but I tell her that we are in the forest. We don’t have the space or latitude to look very good. We are in a fight, you can’t fight when you look very good,” said Methu.
The statement has been taken by some citizens as a metaphor for the state of competitive politics in the country, where leaders face great political pressure and the expectations of the people.
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Online debate after his statement
After the statement went viral, Kenyans on the internet have given it different interpretations, where some have seen it as the usual humor of the leader, while others say it shows the true nature of political motivation.
Analysts say the use of the language “forest” and “struggle” is often used to describe:
Personal appearance and image of leaders
Methu’s statement has also opened a wide debate about how political leaders should appear in front of the public, especially in the age of social networks where a person’s appearance can play a major role in the political debate.
However, the senator has emphasized that his appearance is a personal choice and has nothing to do with his work performance.
He has explained that his main priority is still to serve the people of Nyandarua and address their daily challenges.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
