This archive report was first published on 16 August 2019.
On August 16, 2019, a photo of a woman in a compromising position with a Kitui politician, allegedly with the face of Kibwezi East MP Jessica Mbalu superimposed, set off a frenzy in the constituency ahead of the 2022 elections.
The photo, which was also shared on social media platforms, was dismissed by Mbalu's supporters as an attempt to tarnish her reputation. However, her opponents celebrated the photo, distributing thousands of copies of a local newspaper to locals in targeted towns.
According to reports, the photo was created by one of Mbalu's rivals, who spent Sh50,000 to buy the newspaper in Nairobi and hire boda boda riders to distribute it across the constituency. The photo was also said to have been shared with a different face, with some claiming it was the original image.
At Kambu town, touts were overheard discussing the photo, with one saying, "Ingawa sijaona paja za mheshmiwa uchi, lakini hii ina mabonde sana. Si yake." (Although we haven't seen the MP's thighs, this one has big thighs. It's not hers.)
