Kenyans took to the social media to share their opinions after vocal Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa attended a public function in torn pants.
The MP who is a close ally to Deputy President William Ruto caused a stir after he presided over the official opening of six classrooms at Daraja Mungu primary school in a torn pair of pants.
To complete the image he wanted the public to see, the MP came walking barefoot.
A section of netizens saw his actions as a failed desperate attempt to relate with the plight of the ordinary citizens who can barely afford school uniform for their children amidst difficult economic times.
Some were quick to dismiss it as a futile public relations (PR) exercise to hoodwink the public at a time when MPs are demanding for Sh250000 house allowance to be added onto their hefty perks.
Patrick Amin wrote: "At this rate, I support the move to award our MPs house allowances...these guys are indeed poor!"
Kenyan politicians are known to go to great lengths to win public sympathy and support, joining ordinary citizens in their plight whenever it is beneficial to them, capturing their ctions on camera and sharing the photos for publicity.
Many termed it a mockery of the poor, pointing out that the pants were not worn out but had been deliberately cut and that the MP left his expensive pairs of shoes in his vehicle only to step out barefoot with body guards on tow.
Below are some of the reactions.
His actions however received support from a section of the online community who opined that there was nothing wrong with the MP remebering his days as a student when many would go to school in torn school uniforms.
"He is showing how he was going to school.he is flashing back. I don't see anything wrong with the uniform .he is encouraging the pupils to work hard." Wrote Shantel Redemtah.