Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has condemned a section of Kenyans who have been mocking Raila Junior, the son of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, on social media.
Taking to X on Tuesday, Mwaura described the behavior as “horrendous,” highlighting that some users had even created social media challenges based on Junior’s appearance.
“It’s very wrong to mock someone based on their appearance due to an inherent condition. It’s even horrendous to create a ‘challenge’ to body shame,” Mwaura stated. “Such behavior reflects more on poor character and upbringing in the name of content creation. Let’s be human for once.”
The mocking videos, mostly posted on TikTok, feature creators lip-syncing to Junior’s speeches during his father’s funeral while distorting their mouths to mimic his facial appearance.
Many of these videos have received criticism, with viewers calling out the insensitivity and reporting the content.
Raila Junior’s Condition
Raila Junior suffers from Acoustic Neuroma, also known as Vestibular Schwannoma, a noncancerous, slow-growing tumor that develops on the vestibular nerve connecting the inner ear to the brain.
He has previously clarified that this is a hereditary condition from his mother’s side, which has caused partial paralysis on one side of his face.
In 2022, Junior corrected misconceptions that he had Bell’s Palsy, explaining:
“I have what is called an Acoustic Schwannoma. This is a non-cancerous growth at the back of my brain. What happens is that every human being has five ventricles, and mine presses against my third ventricle, which controls the nerves on the right side of my face. This is what caused the right side of my face to get paralyzed.”
The government’s strong statement urges Kenyans to show respect, discouraging the use of someone’s medical condition for entertainment or content creation.
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