Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has strongly dismissed a viral photo circulating online that falsely shows her posing in a compromising way with Mumias East MP Peter Salasya. The image, which quickly spread across social media platforms, was later confirmed to be manipulated using artificial intelligence.
The altered photo sparked intense online debate, gossip, and speculation about the two leaders. Many social media users shared the image without verification, leading to misleading narratives that risked damaging their public reputations before the truth came out.
In the viral image, MP Salasya appears to have his hand placed around Passaris’s waist while the two pose for a photo. However, a closer and more detailed fact-check revealed that this scenario never happened. Careful analysis showed clear signs that the image had been digitally altered.
How the Fake Image Was Identified
The Newshub.co.ke fact-checking team carried out a detailed forensic analysis using specialised digital verification tools to determine whether the image was real or fake. The investigation confirmed that the photo was not authentic.
One of the tools used, known as AI Image Detector, discovered an embedded SynthID digital watermark. This watermark is commonly linked to content generated or edited using Google’s AI tools, strongly indicating that artificial intelligence played a role in creating the image.
A second tool, AInotAI, went further and showed an 80 per cent probability that the image had been manipulated. The same tool also suggested a high likelihood that the misleading content was generated using AI technology.
Several visual red flags supported these findings. These included unnatural body proportions where the two figures appeared to meet, lighting and shadows that did not match across the image, and blurred or distorted areas around the hands and waist. Such inconsistencies are common signs of AI-generated or edited images.
Passaris Shares the Original Photo
To clear the air, Passaris took to her social media platforms and shared the original, unedited photograph. The real image presented a completely different picture from what had gone viral.
In the authentic photo, three people are clearly visible standing respectfully apart. A man dressed in a black suit stands on the left, Passaris is positioned in the middle, and MP Salasya stands on the far right with visible space between them. There is no inappropriate contact or pose, directly disproving the claims made by the fake image.
A Growing Trend of AI Misinformation in Kenya
This incident is not isolated. Kenya has recently witnessed a rise in AI-generated images targeting well-known public figures. One notable case involved fake photos showing Apostle James Ng’ang’a’s church allegedly being demolished near Nairobi Railway Station.
Those images, which circulated widely in January 2026, were later confirmed to be about 60 per cent AI-generated after analysis by multiple verification platforms. Despite being fake, the images caused public confusion and emotional reactions before they were debunked.
Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua also fell victim to a similar incident. A deepfake image showed him kneeling before President William Ruto, yet in reality, he was simply standing beside the Head of State. Mutua later publicly dismissed the image as false.
Call for Stronger Cyber and Data Protection Laws
Following the latest incident, Passaris has called for tougher data protection and cybercrime laws in Kenya. She warned that digital manipulation is becoming more advanced and poses a serious threat to personal dignity and public trust.
“Data protection, digital ethics, and stronger cyber laws, including Kenya’s cybercrime and data protection frameworks, are not just tech issues,” Passaris said, stressing the need for urgent legal and policy action.
She further cautioned Kenyans that in 2026, visual content should no longer be trusted blindly. With AI technology becoming more powerful and accessible, fake images can look extremely real, making verification more important than ever.
Passaris urged the public to fact-check content before sharing and called on authorities to take digital misinformation seriously as it continues to target individuals and undermine reputations.
Join Tutam Official WhatsApp Channel to stay updated on time
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
