Ledama's Response To Mercy Tarus' Condition Before Accepting Job Offer

Narok Senator, Ledama Olekina on Saturday, August 12 suggested that viral graduate Mercy Tarus may have been influenced to issuing conditions he must meet before considering his job offer.

In a statement on Twitter, the senator respected her sentiments after he expressed admiration for Tarus' courage in boldly confronting the Uasin Gishy county leadership and revealed that he wanted to work with her.

This is after she had joined several other students from Uasin Gishu County who expressed their frustrations at the county leadership over the Finland Education programme, with Tarus giving the county leaders a difficult time in her address during their meeting.

Tarus, though appearing to be ready to consider his offer, urged Ledama to look for his colleagues with the aim of holding the Uasin Gishu government to account.

"Mr Ledama, before we can further this conversation, talk to your fellow Senators to bring the Uasin Gishu County Government to book and compel them to refund rightfully hard-earned money to the Citizens of Kenya.

"Maybe then, we can talk. Otherwise, I have nothing more to say," she replied.

Ledama however clarified that he wanted to work with her and not offer her a job as widely reported, adding that the offer would come just like a real job with laid-out terms like any other contractual job.

"If indeed the response was from Mercy Tarus, she has a right to respond that way and I respect her sentiments. My position was clear, I said I would like her to work for me!

"Liking and offering have two different meanings … I like her boldness and candid nature and that can rub positively to other staff. Now when it comes to offering, that would come second with specific terms or an invitation to work on a specific paid role," the senator responded.

When pressed by netizens to summon Uasin Gishu Senator, Jackson Mandago with regards to the controversial scholarship programme, Ledama ignored the demands adding that a petition has to be launched in Parliament and a committee assigned for purposes of dealing with matters regarding the programme.

"I can’t summon Mandago…a petition has to be launched in parliament and the specific committee would be assigned the task. 

"It’s important for you to understand how parliament works. Even the courts can’t work on their own volition a complaint has to be filed," Ledama stated in response to Twitter user @ahmedsalims.

Regarding the petition, the Senator noted that a citizen can launch the petition in Parliament if he or she has the facts about it and the matter not being active in court.

Tarus grew to a national celebrity in the space of a few days after she compelled the county government to account for the millions paid by the parents and students to the controversial Uasin Gishu overseas study programme dubbed Uasin Gishu Education Trust Fund.

After her viral speech, she demanded the county leaders to refund their money, and implored President William Ruto to intervene in the matter so that the residents get justice before more consequences manifest.