A Kenyan woman has come forward accusing an X account operating under the name @Adele_lide of stealing her photographs from Instagram and using them to build a fake online identity without her knowledge or consent.

According to the complainant, whose real name is Diana Mutai, the person behind the account has been downloading her Instagram photos and reposting them on X while pretending to be a woman named Adele.

Diana says she does not use X, has no interest in political discussions, and only discovered the impersonation after friends began sending her screenshots of the viral account.

“Hello, I am Diana and there is a guy on Twitter who is using my pictures impersonating me as Adele. I don’t know his aim.”

In messages shared with this publication, Diana identifies her genuine Instagram account as @diana_mutai01, where the original photographs appear.

She says the X account has copied multiple images directly from her profile, including her most recent uploads, and is using them to attract followers and participate in online conversations under a completely different identity.

What has disturbed her most is that the fake account is posting political content using her face, exposing her to public attention and potentially damaging her reputation despite having nothing to do with those opinions.

“Mimi siko Twitter and I know nothing about politics, so imagine mtu ananiharibia jina.”

She is now asking Kenyans to help report the impersonation account and have it removed from X, adding that she is prepared to pursue legal action against the individual responsible.

The complaint also states that the account is operated by a man based in Kinoo, who created the profile using Diana’s images while presenting himself online as “Adele.”

Identity theft and impersonation on social media have become an increasing concern in Kenya, with fake accounts frequently using stolen photographs to spread political messaging, solicit money, or deceive members of the public. Victims often discover the impersonation only after friends or relatives recognize their images circulating under different names.

The relevant authorities, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), are mandated to handle complaints involving identity misuse, cyber impersonation, and unlawful use of personal data, while X users can also report accounts for impersonation through the platform’s reporting tools.

The complainant is requesting Kenyans to report the X account @Adele_lide for impersonation