After weeks of viral posts on social media, where dark silhouettes mimicking the likeness of President William Ruto have been widely shared, many Kenyans have been left wondering about the fate of the person behind the trend.
Questions have also been raised about whether the creator of the silhouettes has violated any laws and how the government plans to respond.
Raymond Omollo, the Principal Secretary for Internal Security, addressed the matter during an interview on Citizen TV on Wednesday, December 11.
Omollo confirmed that the government had no plans to take legal action against the individual behind the silhouettes.
He acknowledged that while the person was using their creative abilities, it was being done in a negative manner.
Rather than pursuing legal consequences, Omollo stated that the government would prefer to support the individual in advancing their creativity, potentially helping them turn it into a productive and income-generating activity.
“The level of creativity of Kenyans is quite amazing and interesting. It demonstrates what is possible with technology.
They can even look for ways to monetize it in a manner that is not ridiculing,” he remarked.
The issue was raised by a viewer of the show, prompting Omollo’s response.
In recent weeks, Kenyans on social media have been entertained by these silhouette artworks, which typically depict high-profile leaders.
However, the artwork has sparked debate because of its apparent negative portrayal of the leaders.
At one point, the government seemed to join in the trend when Dennis Itumbi, the head of the Special Projects and Creative Economy in the Office of the President, responded by creating his own silhouette art.
Itumbi’s creations, however, were intended to highlight and amplify President Ruto’s achievements rather than criticize him.
The Constitution of Kenya guarantees freedom of speech, allowing individuals to express their opinions freely, especially on social media.
However, this has become a point of contention, with some government officials, including Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, recently criticizing how these freedoms are sometimes used, particularly when directed at government leaders.
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