Nairobi Women Representative Esther Passaris on Thursday, April 24, hit out at Kenyans demanding privacy and respect as her staunch defence of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga threatens to boil over.
Through a statement, Passaris launched a tirade at Kenyans, seemingly following her criticism of a section of netizens over their portrayal of Raila as the next Pope following the demise of Pope Francis.
“To those who insult me online, share my private contacts, and seek to rob me of peace — know this: you are the few, not the many. The majority of Kenyans we serve understand respect, responsibility, and boundaries,” she charged.
“I take heart in the truth that empty debes make the most noise. And noise has never built a nation — service has,” Passaris further added.
On Tuesday, April 22, Passaris issued a stern warning to Gen Zs over the ‘photoshopping’ of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as the next Pope after the passing of Pope Francis.
While speaking during a Parliament session, Passaris urged Gen Zs to respect Raila and the billions of Catholic faithful globally, who are in mourning following the passing of their spiritual leader on Monday.
“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 papal clothing. I think that is so disrespectful,” she 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,” Passaris charged.
Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, after battling double pneumonia for over one month. According to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, the Pope passed away at 7:35am on Monday, April 21.
"Pope Francis passed on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta," Vatican News said in a tweet.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936, had been the head of the Catholic Church since 2013.
In the aftermath of his demise, Kenyans satirically portrayed Raila as the next pope through AI-generated images; supposedly a subtle dig at Odinga’s numerous failed attempts to gain both local and continental top leadership gongs.
Raila previously contested five general elections as well as the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship seat to no avail. The failed attempts have at times put him at the center of jibes from many netizens.
