It was satire! Kisii Woman Rep Reacts to viral video about mourning bodyguard
Kisii County Woman Representative, Dorice Aburi ‘Toto’ Donya, found herself at the center of controversy after a video surfaced on social media depicting what many perceived as a verbal altercation with her bodyguard.
The video quickly went viral, sparking outrage and criticism from Kenyans who condemned what they perceived as mistreatment by the MP.
In the video, the Kisii Woman Rep is heard saying, “Hello, how are you officer? I’ve not seen you for three weeks at work. You lost your wife, yes I know, and you buried her two weeks ago. You were mourning your wife? So you stayed for three weeks because you were mourning your wife and you didn’t come to work? How is mourning your wife related to work? You were paid for what you are doing at work. You have not come to work for three weeks, and you are telling me that you were mourning your wife? You people are not serious, I don’t know what is wrong with you people.”
Following the public backlash, MP Dorice Donya clarified that the video was intended as satire. She asserted that she willingly participated in the recording and was not secretly recorded, as some on social media had suggested.
Explaining her stance, the MP told Nairobi News that her message was directed at highlighting the mistreatment of workers, especially during times of personal tragedy.
According to her, the satire aimed to expose the reality of leaders who mistreat their staff, denying them leave or breaks, even when they are mourning the loss of loved ones.
“People think that I was caught off-guard, but sometimes, you don’t have to defend yourself so much. That is simply a satire,” MP Donya told Nairobi News.
She elaborated on the purpose of using satire, stating, “When you use satire, it means that there are forces that you are trying to mention and they are very strong that you cannot get to them directly. You just want people to know that we know what you are doing to your juniors. That is to warn people that when someone is bereaved, don’t treat them badly.”
While acknowledging that some may have misunderstood her message, MP Donya refused to issue an apology, insisting that those who misinterpreted her intentions did not grasp the story’s context.
Addressing speculation about whether her comments were directed at Governor Simba Arati, the MP clarified that her issues with the governor were solely based on pending bills.
She highlighted concerns about the non-payment of contractors, questioning the implications for the county’s financial circulation.
Donya, who was elected on the Wiper Democratic ticket in the last election, previously worked as a media personality, serving as a presenter in one of the leading stations broadcasting in the Abagusii dialect.