Murmurs as former UKip supporter rocks Jubilee merchandise
Kenyans have put to task a woman who headed the communications department of a party in the United Kingdom that has taken controversial stance after she wore Jubilee merchandise.
Alexandra Phillips, who once worked for Nigel Farage when he headed UK Independence Party (UKip) that successfully led the Brexit campaign, raised eyebrows when she shared a picture of herself wearing a Jubilee cap.
She also posed with some Kenyans, captioning it: “My beautiful Kenyan Comms Team.” She has since deleted the posts from her Instagram account.
It was first pointed out by Ory Okolloh, who goes by the username @KenyanPundit on Twitter.
Looks like Alexandra Phillips, former head of media for Nigel Farage + UKIP, is working for Jubilee. pic.twitter.com/veLdbycHRL
— Ory Okolloh Mwangi (@kenyanpundit) September 10, 2017
People then started wondering loudly.
I’m actually speechless. Do we know what UKIP stands for?
— Zinduko (@Zinduko) September 10, 2017
My stomach is just turning. This is so creepy.
— Dr Wandia (@wmnjoya) September 10, 2017
One even offered to educate Kenyans on what it all means.
Having lived through UKIP’s campaign & experienced it first hand- they’ve basically picked someone who was paid to spread hate & to lie.
— Samira Sawlani (@samirasawlani) September 10, 2017
But Ms Phillips would not take it lying down.
Are you calling millions who voted Brexit hatemongers? You people know nothing about me, and are the ones behaving like hatemongers!
— Alexandra Phillips (@Politicalex) September 10, 2017
I briefly visited Kenya but I’m back home in Blighty I’m afraid! Incredible country. I really enjoyed my time there!
— Alexandra Phillips (@Politicalex) September 10, 2017
She even refuted claims of having been employed by Jubilee.
I’ve never been employed by Jubilee! I do think Kenyatta is a great President though. Hoping for a ?? ?? free trade deal post Brexit!
— Alexandra Phillips (@Politicalex) September 10, 2017
But one user did not believe her.
Was in Kenya √
Wore Jubilee hat √
Uhuru is dope √
Some sloganeering √
Had a Comms team √√√√
Didn’t work 4 Jubilee ×Graded!
— MykEzee (@MykEzee) September 10, 2017
Kenyans’ concerns appear to be her dalliance with Farage, a Eurosceptic who has made controversial statements in the past. Some have been slammed as pure racist.
For instance, Farage once blamed immigrants in December 2014 when asked why he was late for an event.
“It took me six hours and 15 minutes to get here – it should have taken three-and-a-half to four,” he said.
“That has nothing to do with professionalism, what it does have to do with is a country in which the population is going through the roof chiefly because of open-door immigration and the fact that the M4 is not as navigable as it used to be.”
Earlier, he had proposed that the UK bans immigrants who have HIV.
He also claimed that parts of the UK were like “foreign land” because of the high number of foreigners.
