Millie Odhiambo: "Stop Seeing White Men as Heaven-Sent" – A Challenge to Kenyan Ladies

Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo has issued a firm challenge to Kenyan women regarding their perceptions of foreign men.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, 17th, the lawmaker addressed the fallout from a recent incident involving a Russian national who allegedly recorded and shared videos of multiple Kenyan women.

The MP argued that the incident highlights a deeper issue of self-worth and the exploitation of vulnerable citizens. She suggested that a technological culture is shifting how younger generations interact, sometimes leaving them open to predatory behaviour.

Challenging the ‘Heaven on Earth’ Myth

During her address, Odhiambo was blunt about the pedestal on which some local women place foreigners. She urged women to reconsider their views on beauty and identity.

“We have not nurtured and trained our people that we are beautiful enough as black people; the moment you see a white person, you think that they are heaven on earth,” she said.

The MP stated that the country has not done enough to "nurture and train our people that we are beautiful enough as black people".

ALSO READ: Beyond Poverty: Why the Russian Guy Scandal is About More Than Just Money

Odhiambo clarified that while she was not attacking white people as a group, she felt it necessary to guard against certain forms of neocolonisation where foreigners enter the country to ridicule and shame African women.

Odhiambo challenged the ladies to embrace the Kenyan men as good enough in order towade away interests from foreigners.

“I want to challenge our women that we need to see our men in Kenya as good enough. Not everybody who is white is heaven on earth,” she added.

Technology: A Double-Edged Sword

The discussion in the National Assembly also touched on the role of social media platforms like TikTok.Odhiambo, who identifies as a child protection expert, noted that technology has replaced traditional "FaceTime" activities like playing "bladder" or other outdoor games.

She acknowledged that platforms like TikTok have provided vital employment and civic engagement opportunities.She even shared a personal anecdote about being caricatured a lot on the app, noting that she was happy for people to make money from her likeness given the current unemployment rates.

However, she warned that these same platforms are being used for predatory tendencies and the distribution of explicit sexual content.

"We must be very brave as a house and confront some of the good things that it brings but also deal... very fast because technology changes very fast."

Protecting the Vulnerable

The Suba North MP expressed concern over the "evolving capacities" of children and young adults navigating these digital spaces. She argued that the House must consult experts to look at the intersection of law, child protection, and technology.

Referring back to the Russian national's case, she questioned the motive behind making private encounters public. She argued that such actions are often intended to misuse and shame African women.

Odhiambo called on the House to be proactive, suggesting that Parliament should review technological issues almost every month to keep pace with the rapid changes in how people socialise and share information.