Passaris Defends Millicent Omanga Over Alleged Raunchy Viral Video
She added that the shame had a ripple effect as it not only affected those who allegedly leaked Omanga's video but the entire society profiting from the destruction of one's character.
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Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris condemned the leaking of intimate videos and photos of men and women on the Internet without their consent, in reference to Interior Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Millicent Omanga's case where a leaked raunchy video of her made her trend for the better part of two days.
In a statement on Wednesday, April 19, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) legislator termed the unauthorized release of private photos as a violation of people's privacy with the intent of humiliating them in front of the public eye.
She added that the shame had a ripple effect as it not only affected those who allegedly leaked Omanga's video but the entire society profiting from the destruction of one's character.
Millicent Omanga taking her oath of office on March 23, 2023. /FACEBOOK.MILLICENT OMANGA
"The release of intimate images of any woman or man without their consent should be condemned in the strongest possible terms as a violation of their privacy and dignity. It is not only a gross invasion of their personal life, but also an attempt to intimidate, shame, embarrass and silence them.
"The shame is not for my sister, the shame is ours as a society that thrives on the destruction of one’s character oblivious of the pain or damage it causes to not only the aggrieved but also family, friends, and the public," she wrote in part.
Passaris, who defeated Omanga in the race to defend her seat in the 2022 general elections, further called for resistance on the matter by Kenyans and bringing the perpetrators to book in a bid to tame the vice.
"This is a reprehensible act that cannot be justified under any circumstances and it is important that we take a strong stance against such behaviour and hold those responsible accountable for their actions," she added.
Hours after the video leaked, Omanga issued a response but it wasn't what many expected. She quoted a Bible verse encouraging her followers to stand strong even when battered by controversy, just like her, while wishing them a good day.
"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.” Luke 10:19. Blessed day peeps," she wrote on Facebook.
Despite fact checks by Viral Tea initially ruling out the video as fake, former Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko claimed that Omanga had called him while on official duty and informed him that she had a stomach problem, prompting the former county boss to intervene to resolve the issue.
"We briefly spoke and she told me she had a running and bloated stomach and I advised her to take club soda or salt and hot water then lie on her stomach all night. Here she seems to be following the instructions I gave, innocently lying on her stomach resting after a long day of tree planting and working for this country that she loves so much.
"She even took the extra piece of advice where I told her to make sure she is ‘free’ so that she can pass gas in that position. Even as you can see from the photo the bedsheets are still well spread, clearly showing that no vigorous activity had taken place," he claimed, however failing to disclose the identity of the individual who was allegedly recording the clip.
Nominated Senator, Karen Nyamu also reacted to the leaked footage and condemned the individual who was purported to have taken the video, terming the act as childish.
The video that was first shared by Twitter user Taekwondo Kenya as well as a parody account of a local gossip blog showed a woman purportedly resembling Omanga fast asleep in her room while in a raunchy position.
It was shared across other social media platforms as well as screengrabs of it, with many netizens believing that the former nominated senator had joined a growing list of celebrities and prominent figures in Kenya alleged to have ‘united Kenyans’ with raunchy footage.
Oxford Dictionary defines revenge porn as posting revealing or sexually explicit images or videos of a person on the Internet, typically by a former sexual partner, without the consent of the subject and in order to cause them distress or embarrassment.
