Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has spoken out after a video of her awkward hug with Ida Odinga, wife of ODM leader Raila Odinga, went viral across social media platforms.
The light moment happened during a visit to Raila’s grave in Bondo, where Wavinya joined Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and other leaders to pay their respects.
The short clip showed Wavinya moving in to greet Mrs. Odinga in what appeared to be a brief, hesitant hug, sparking a wave of online reactions.
Within hours, the video spread widely, with many Kenyans turning the scene into memes and humorous posts.
Responding on her social media pages, the governor laughed off the moment, writing, “Ati hug imefanya nini?😅.”
She went on to express appreciation to Kenyans for their constant engagement and the attention the incident drew.
“You Kenyans never cease to amaze me! I didn’t realize I could attract so much attention and support from Kenyans,” Wavinya wrote.
She added: “Your involvement, engagement, and constructive criticism have played a huge role in shaping who I am today. From ‘Yaliyo ndwele sipite’ to ‘Wavinya kuhug cha Vinya’... Because of you, our work in transformative governance and community-driven development is now being recognized across the African continent.”