Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has issued a strong warning to Kenyan Gen Zs over the trend of editing photos to show former Prime Minister Raila Odinga dressed as the Pope.
This comes in the wake of the death of Pope Francis, which occurred on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025.
Speaking during a parliamentary session on Tuesday, April 22, Passaris criticized the online behavior, saying that it showed great disrespect not only to Raila Odinga but also to the over two billion Catholics around the world who are grieving the loss of their spiritual leader.
“I have seen very disturbing content on social media,” Passaris said. “Some young people, who lack basic respect, are photoshopping Raila Odinga into papal clothing and sharing those images as jokes.
This is deeply offensive, especially when we are mourning a man who served as a spiritual father to billions and walked closely with God.”
She continued by urging young people to reflect on their actions and show more consideration during this solemn time.
“I want to send a message to our Gen Zs—have some respect. Respect Raila Odinga, respect the Pope, and respect the Catholic faithful.
The Pope has just passed away, and he hasn’t even been laid to rest. Turning his death into a meme is not only mockery, but something you should feel ashamed of.”
The memes in question are believed to be AI-generated images, humorously portraying Raila as the next Pope.
While many see them as harmless satire, some interpret the content as a jab at Raila’s many unsuccessful attempts to secure top leadership roles both within Kenya and across Africa.
Raila has previously contested five general elections in Kenya and also vied for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission—without success. These failed bids have often made him a target of jokes among online users.
The recent wave of memes followed the announcement that Pope Francis had passed away on the morning of April 21 after battling serious health complications.
The 88-year-old Pontiff, who had led the Catholic Church since 2013, died at 7:35am in his Vatican residence, Casa Santa Marta.
The Vatican revealed that Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936, had long struggled with respiratory problems stemming from a lung infection in his youth, which led to the removal of part of one lung.
Over the years, he suffered repeated infections, including a serious case of bronchitis in 2023 that required hospitalization.
His final health battle involved double pneumonia, which eventually led to a stroke. He later slipped into a coma and experienced irreversible heart failure.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, confirmed the Pope’s death. Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, who heads the Vatican’s Health and Hygiene Directorate, officially certified his passing.
The Holy See Press Office shared the sad news on Monday evening.
Pope Francis will be laid to rest on Saturday, April 26, at 11:00am, at the Basilica of St Mary Major, in accordance with his personal wishes.
In his final spiritual testament, the late Pontiff had asked for a modest burial. He requested to be buried in the ground, in a simple grave, without elaborate decorations, with only the name “Franciscus” inscribed on his tombstone.
The Catholic community and world leaders continue to mourn the passing of Pope Francis, while calls for respectful conduct online grow louder, especially from leaders like Passaris who are urging younger generations to behave more mindfully in the digital space.
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