Comedian Eddie Butita recently addressed criticism for not publicly speaking out on the Finance Bill protests in Nairobi on time.
The comic explained why he did not speak on time.
Butita trended on social media for several days after neglecting to join other Kenyans in their protest against the Finance Bill.
Many felt that his quiet and journey with the president indicated that he backed the bill.
However, in an interview on August 2, Butita disclosed that he had been opposed to the law from the start.
He stated that he had opposed the Finance Bill long before the protests began, further revealing that he had even submitted a document outlining his reservations about the measure.
“If anybody had a chance to participate in their own space in that conversation that was happening in the U.S., they would have done it because that was also my duty as a citizen of this country,” he said.
Butita underlined that his visit to the United States alongside President William Ruto did not imply endorsement for the government’s decisions.
“What people don’t know is that kuna vitu ata mi nilikuwa nadisgree nazo earlier enough in that Finance Bill. We even did a document nikasubmit. I’m also a citizen of this country, and every bad decision might affect me. Kuenda US doesn’t mean ati kuna role yenye mi naplay kwa faults government inafanya. Kama kuna faults then ni zao,” he clarified.
When questioned if his friendship with the president influenced his delayed reaction, Butita admitted that there is a specific manner to speak with a buddy.
“That is also true. Am your friend if something happens there is a way I communicate or address it to you. For me, I already played a role. Unfortunately, I didn’t know how much influence I have in the country coz mi ni msanii tu. Later I realised it matters to communicated about it…I should have done it earlier… But I should also not be blamed because nikiwa beshte yako kuna vile nakuongelesha,” he said.
Butita recognized that several celebrities rejected the Finance Bill in order to maintain their appeal among fans. He elected, however, to remain true to his ideals.
He also revealed that his silence led to misunderstandings and backlash especially on social media.
“People attack brands when they are at their lowest… But I didn’t do any crime and hakuna kitu ningedo about the situation. When it started nilitoka mtandao… When people started calling and texting after my number leaked ndio nilijua mambo imechemka kwa mtandao,” he explained.
Butita revealed that approximately 4,000 people unsubscribed from his channel amid the dispute, however, noting that he has earned fans on other platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and X.
“I realised when a narrative has been pushed that Butita is silent because he is on the government side, there are people who will forever believe that. They need to know which side am on… I think wasee hawataki hiyo silence, so I thought the best thing ni kuongelea,” he said.
Despite the criticism, Butita issued an apology and said he will instead treat the situation as a time for reflection.
“We went through that na ziliisha… Hakuna crime nimefanya. Hizi ni moments we can’t avoid. Once you are in the limelight, you sign up for a lot of this. It has its highs and lows. That was a low kidogo for me, but it came when a lot of things were happening. It also gave me an opportunity to reflect on things that it could happen anytime
“Kama kuna msee alimisniterprate stand yangu, pole sana. Nilirealise timing is very crucial on how you address matters of national importance. It’s very key,” he concluded.
