Raila Odinga, the leader of Azimio, has removed a video from his social media accounts that he had shared to urge Kenyans to join protests. The video included an image and voice of a content creator named Gerald, who was not happy about his inclusion in the video. In the clip, Odinga, who finished second in the 2022 elections, can be heard leading the chant to “free the country,” set to the background of the song “Freedom is Coming” from the Sarafina movie.
Gerald, who goes by MC Bull, wrote to Odinga expressing his dissatisfaction with the use of his image and voice in the video, stating that it has caused him emotional and financial strain. He claimed that he lost a few gigs as a result of the video. He emphasized that the original ad was only meant to encourage people to vote and nothing more.
This is not the first time Odinga has faced backlash for using content without consent. In the past, the popular music group Sauti Sol threatened to sue him for playing their song “Extravaganza” during the unveiling of his running mate in the 2022 presidential campaign. Sauti Sol released a statement stating that they had not authorized the use of their song and demanded that Odinga take down the video immediately.
The unauthorized use of content is a growing issue globally, especially in the digital age. It is essential for individuals and organizations to seek consent before using someone else’s content. Failure to do so can have severe consequences, including legal action, loss of revenue, and damage to reputation.
