Migori Senator Eddy Oketch has revealed why he walked away from a high-paying private sector job that earned him nearly KSh6 million per month to join politics, despite now earning a significantly lower salary as a senator.
Speaking during an interview on the Obinna Show, Oketch disclosed that his earnings in the private sector were about ten times what he currently takes home as a member of the Senate.
During the interview, host Oga Obinna expressed surprise after learning that the senator had taken a major pay cut to serve in public office.
“You took out KSh5 million and returned for half a million?” Obinna asked.
In response, Oketch suggested that senior executives in Kenya’s banking sector earn far more than elected leaders, pointing to top bank CEOs as an example.
“I’m asking you, how much is James Mwangi earning? Do you know how much the CEO of KCB Bank is earning? Do you know how much the CEO of Absa is earning?” he said.
Oketch also reflected on his career journey, revealing that he began working in the banking sector at a young age before steadily rising through the ranks.
He recalled working at Equity Bank in 2010 in the loans department and later serving as president of the Angaza Institute in 2016, experiences he said helped shape his leadership path.
Although he acknowledged that his decision to enter politics came with a substantial financial sacrifice, Oketch suggested that his motivation went beyond money.
