- Lawyer Ahmed Nasir Abdullahi sparked a debate after he wondered why Kenyans reject a man who built himself up from the streets but trust the poor people who have lived to absorb the nation
- His statements came after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja appointed activist Calvince Okoth popularly known as Gaucho to the Management Board of Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital
- Kenyans online exploded, questioning Gaucho’s credentials but Ahmed Nasir turned the mirror towards the critics
- The debate has raised a question that Kenya has never resolved: have formal education and political elite families really helped the country
When Nairobi erupted due to the appointment of activist Calvince Okoth popularly known as Gaucho to the board of the county hospital, Kenyans were asking the usual question — what does a person who reached the Sixth Form know about running a hospital?
Source: UGC
Noted lawyer Ahmed Nasir Abdullahi was quick to ask serious questions about the appointment.
Writing on X, the lawyer pointed out that Kenyans who complain about Gaucho are not claiming his ability at work but whether he comes from a rich family with many generations.
They want someone whose father was in government, whose grandfather held a position, whose family name carries political weight regardless of how the name was built or its cost to ordinary Kenyans.
“A clean young man, without formal education, who made himself from Kibraan seems inappropriate. But if he comes from a political family that has exploited this country for years and years, he would be accepted without a single question,” said Nasir
Then came a sentence that stopped people in their tracks:
“Where exactly did those with degrees take us?”
A Selection That Sparked Debate
The debate started when Nairobi City County officially published the appointment of Gaucho in the Management Board of Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital under Gazette Notice no. 5733, starting April 16, 2026, for a period of three years.
HapaKenya The notice was given by the Member of the County Executive Committee dealing with Health Suzanne Silantoi under the Facility Improvement Funding Act, 2023.
Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital is a Level 5 public referral center in Eastlands, Nairobi, serving a population of about 2.25 million and serving over 2,000 patients daily one of the busiest hospitals in the county.
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Gaucho joins the board led by Dr. Elvis Meli, along with Dr. Chama Nzai, Susan Wanjiru Kamau, Knight Medza Kaingu, and Abdalla Ali.
Who Is A Gaucho?
Calvince Okoth was born in Rongo, Migori County, lost his parents when he was young, dropped out of school in Grade Six, and moved to Nairobi where he earned a living in informal settlements like Korogocho and Dandora.
His early years were not clean. In April 2014, Gaucho was linked to an attack on a gas station in Ruiru that left three people dead — a turning point that pushed him from street life to activism.
Relationship with Rosemary Odinga, daughter of Raila Odingagave him a political platform and introduced him to the wider Odinga family.
He became the president of the People’s Assembly and gained national fame during protest of the cost of living in 2023 — loud, outspoken, and impossible to ignore on the streets of Nairobi.
“We have gone astray as a country” — Kenyans Wajibu
Online critics were unsympathetic after the newspaper notice went viral.
Gaucho Says: “It Hurts You’re Not Here, Father”
When Gaucho broke his silence, he did not respond to his critics. He spoke about the late Raila Odinga.
In an emotional statement, he wrote: “It hurts my heart that you are not here to witness the fruits of your kindness, your care, and your unwavering faith in me.”
He thanked the Governor Johnson and President Ruto, and gave the honor of the appointment to young people from informal settlements, saying that their inclusion is evidence that people from that environment can reach positions of influence.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
