SportPesa influencer? KOX reacts to Raila’s gym kit
A short clip of Opposition Leader Raila Odinga doing his workout in the gym donning a dark blue training kit with Sportpesa’s name inscribed on it has elicited mixed reactions on social media.
The clip was posted by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Communications boss Philip Etale on x (formerly Twitter) on February 1, 2023.
In the short clip, a joyful Mr Odinga, 80, is seen working out on the leg press machine while donning the sleeveless kit.
Also read: https://x.com/EtalePhilip/status/1752917363299606841?s=20
However, many X users took issue with the Sportpesa name on the kit claiming the former Prime Minister was marketing the betting company and could be its brand ambassador.
“Handlers wa baba (Those who manage Raila’s programs), why take a video of him adorning Sportpesa branded merchandise? That is an endorsement, kubwa sana (Big endorsement,” wrote Erick Omollo Juma.
“How much did @Sportpesa pay him as an influencer?” posed @DaudiPhil
Another one @Kigen_kev said “Kumbe Sportpesa ni yake—inatukula vibaya (So Sportpesa is his and the way it is making us do badly in betting)
Many fans castigated the famous politician for putting on the attire with the name of the gaming firm and wondered how a leader of his stature could turn into a marketer of Sportpesa.
Unknown to them, the attire is Gor Mahia’s third training kit. Many also didn’t comprehend that the ODM leader is the patron of the 20-time Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League champions whose shirt sponsor is Sportpesa.
Many of them failed to note that on the right side of the sleeveless shirt was a Gor Mahia logo inscribed in green colour. Gor Mahia’s first jersey is the popular green one which has made its fans refer to as the Green Army while attending the team’s matches in their numbers.
The reigning champions’ second kit is a white one while the third kit is a blue one which Mr Odinga was donning.
Sportpesa signed a three-year deal worth Sh240 million with Gor Mahia on September 23, 2022.
Others however had a positive comment for the former Langata MP, saying despite his advanced age, he looked fresh and young. Others called on him to be on the ballot in the 2027 General Elections to save Kenyans from the current economic distress.
“Baba bado Kijana (Baba is still a youth)” @Mecharic said
“Mzee is still strong” said @John Kudri.
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