Politics is arguably one of the toughest careers because it places you in the public domain, and job security depends on your allegiance to the powers that be. One wrong move and you may find yourself in the political cold.
Being in the public domain means members of the public, such as your constituents, can access your phone number and contact you whenever they are in need.
However, not everyone who takes your number has good intentions; some have ulterior motives, like sending explicit and compromising messages.
In this article, we outline 7 prominent leaders who've decried receiving such messages:
Esther Passaris
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The Nairobi County Woman Representative is the most recent leader to complain over indecent and explicit messages sent to her by strangers.
In a video that has since gone viral, Passaris notes that during the Gen Z protests, the phone numbers of various leaders, including hers, were widely shared and landed in the hands of devious characters who would be sending her explicit content.
She urged the young men to be respectful, adding that she is 60 years old.
"Mimi kama mheshimiwa saa zingine vijana wananikosea heshima...wengine wananiambia wako na inches, sasa najiuliza wewe ni kijana kama mtoto wangu mimi nko na miaka 60...Vijana muwe na heshima tafadhali," she said in part.
Millie Odhiambo
In June 2024, Suba North MP, while making her submission in Parliament, noted that a young man who got her number online shot his shot via a message.
"A young man wrote to me, telling me that I am young, but I have inches, madam speaker. So it is actually the reverse; it is the young men who are now keen on looking for retirees like me. I don't mean I have retired in my work, but I've retired in that other sector. Telling me about inches. What do I do with inches, madam speaker?" she posed.
Aden Duale
The Environment Cabinet Secretary, while serving as Majority Leader in the National Assembly, narrated how an anonymous lady sent Members of Parliament nude photos.
According to Duale, the lady made it difficult for legislators to use their phones publicly because an explicit image could pop up and cause embarrassment.
"There is a lady who has the phone numbers of all the MPs and keeps sending us nude photos,” Duale was quoted.
Chris Wamalwa
During the same session, former Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa narrated how he once received nude photos from the same lady while in the company of a female legislator.
Wamalwa said the incident humiliated and embarrassed him, adding that such photos lead to conflict or separation in the family.
Junet Mohammed
The Suna East legislator shared Wamalwa's sentiments, adding that the photos pose immense danger to the family unit if they land in the wrong hands.
"The pictures are so dangerous that you only pray they should not come when you are with your family or when your child gets your phone. Sometimes you are on suspicion watch in the house, and when those photos pop up, it becomes difficult to deal with,” he submitted.
Kaptuya Cheboiwo
The former Baringo Woman representative also weighed in on the matter, noting that the photos are so damaging that if one does not have an understanding spouse, they could end up separating.
"If you have a husband who has weak shock absorbers, you can easily get divorced,” she opines.
Babu Owino
The Embakasi East is on record, indicating that he receives a large number of nude photos as direct messages on his social media accounts.
Speaking at a past interview, Owino noted that the fact that a lady can go to the extent of recording and sending explicit photos and videos shows that life is difficult and many Kenyans are in need of assistance.
“I receive so many weird things, such as nude photos, from very beautiful ladies. Napata DMs kali sana, temptations zile serious...There is a reason why they are doing this. Probably maisha pia ni ngumu," he narrated.
