Nairobi County women representative, Hon Esther Passaris has faulted the Kenyan Gen Zs for what she termed as lack of respect to former prime minister Raila Odinga.
Speaking during a parliament session on Tuesday, April 22, Passaris condemned the trend on social media platforms, in which AI generated images of Raila Odinga donned in Pope’s vestments have been circulating, after the Vatican declared the death of Pope Francis on Monday.
She reiterated that the unfounded behavior also tarnishes the image of the Holy Father who was a spiritual leader to many.
“I have seen a lot of people on social media, the ones who have no respect, painting a picture of a man who lived with God and ruled two billion people as a spiritual leader by putting Raila’s image and Raila in Pope clothes. I think that is so disrespectful,” Passaris noted.
“I want to tell our Gen Zs out there, you should have respect for Raila Odinga, the two billion Catholics, and the pope. He has not even been laid to rest, and you use his passing as a mockery. It is something you should be ashamed of,” she added.
The AI images spread on social media platforms for the better part of Monday with the caption, “Raila for Pope”. A trend that aimed at mocking the ODM leader’s failures to win top leadership positions.
Odinga has unsuccessfully vied for the presidency five times including a recent loss to Mahamoud Ali Youssouf for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship position.
Pope Francis’ passing was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrel, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber. He confirmed that the Pontiff died on the morning of Easter Monday at 7:35 AM.
Francis was diagnosed with double pneumonia and was recovering at the Vatican following a 38-day stay at the Gemelli hospital.
The Vatican announced that he his body will be transferred to St Peter’s Basilica for public viewing before his burial on Saturday, April 26.
