ODM Communications Director Philip Etale has shared a deeply personal reflection on why he avoids reading comments on his social media posts, revealing how a combination of personal tragedy and mentorship shaped his approach to online engagement.
In a candid post on X, Etale recounted the final days of his mother, Elizabeth “Queenie” Etale, who passed away at 56 after weeks of hospitalisation.
Etale described the emotional and financial strain he endured as the family’s sole breadwinner, struggling to afford her treatment.
Despite multiple pleas from his sisters, he was unable to travel to Eldoret for what would have been his last conversation with his mother.
Etale said the news of his mother’s passing reached him on January 14, 2014, the same day he had engaged in a heated online exchange with a blogger following a post about ODM leader Raila Odinga.
It was during this moment of personal grief that Raila Odinga, whom Etale described as his mentor, called him with guidance that would leave a lasting impression.
“My boss rang me and said, ‘Philip, I have seen you engaging that guy on social media bitterly. Don’t do that, don’t waste your energy on people who only want to provoke you,’” Etale recounted.
Odinga urged him to avoid reacting to provocative online comments, highlighting the value of restraint and focus.
Etale described this advice as a defining lesson in both personal and professional conduct.
“Tolerance is sanctimonious and sententious. You don’t have to react harshly to be a hero, but silence makes you a great person,” he wrote.
The communications director’s reflection underscores the pressures of public life, the challenges of personal loss, and the guidance that shapes political figures behind the scenes.
His story also highlights the human side of political staffers who operate in high-stakes, digitally-driven environments.
By NAirobinews