By Evans Isohe
The Kenya Sex Workers Alliance (KESWA) has distanced itself from a banner drumming up support for Deputy President William Ruto. Through a statement, the organisation’s national coordinator Phelister Abdalla noted that the photos shared were fake and had been doctored to push an agenda.
The photo was posted on various social media pages suggesting the biliefs of many that ruto is supporting huslers.
The image has been shared by other users of Facebook including ODM Communications Director Philip Etale on Twitter as well as another Facebook page called Mwitito Magiri EBS MBS.
According to research done by Mtaani radio news room the photo was first posted on a blog dated September 19, 2012, with an article about a peaceful protest by commercial sex workers in Thika, Kiambu county, after the killing of their colleague. The blog post links to a YouTube video of the event uploaded on September 20, 2012
The image has been shared by other users of Facebook including by ODM Communications Director Philip Etale on Twitter as well as another Facebook page called Mwitito Magiri EBS MBS.
However, an internet search shows that the photo is not a recent one and the text on the banner is fabricated.
A photo purporting to show sex workers holding a banner thanking Deputy President William Ruto for supporting their trade [Photo: Courtesy]
KESWA coordinator phelister Abdalla said,”KESWA wishes to clarify that the pics are fake and did not originate from us or any of our member organisations. The photos were from previous marches and demos to call to attention the plight and killings of sex workers in various parts of the country,” she said.
Abdalla further reiterated that KESWA does not endorse any political party, asking the relevant authorities to investigate the matter. “We want to reiterate our position as a national movement that we do not engage neither endorse any political party, candidate or person. We wish to call on the relevant authorities to investigate the source of these images which have been used to malign certain individuals,” she added
On the original image, the banner had the words ‘Stop killing sex workers. They are human. Save us from our saviours only rights can stop the wrongs. These were replaced with ‘Asante Ruto for supporting our hustle. Wewe tutakupea free!’ in the manipulated image.
