Why Raila deleted ‘maandamano’ video
Azimio leader Raila Odinga has deleted a video he’d shared on his socials rallying Kenyans to turn up for protests.
The video turned controversial after it included an image of a content creator namely Gerald alias MC Bull who is heard telling Kenyans to turn up in large numbers for the demos.
In the clip, Mr Odinga, who finished second behind President William Ruto in the August 2022 polls, is heard chanting it is time to ‘free the country’ amid a background of the song from the popular Sarafina movie ‘Fredoom is coming’.
The video was pulled down after Gerald wrote to Mr Odinga detailing his displeasure with the move for his image and voice to be used in the clip.
Additionally, he said that due to their constant back and forth to have the video pulled down, “it has cost me a lot of emotional and financial strain. I have lost a gig or two in regards to this.”
He reiterated the original advert was a call to vote, and that was that but now it had been used for a course that he did not consent to.
“I am requesting that you/your team pulls down this material with immediate effect as it’s making me suffer losses that I don’t deserve to be losing. Kenya ni ngumu at the moment. Make it easier for me by pulling it down and apologizing,” he said hours before the video was deleted.
Dear @RailaOdinga,
My name is Gerald, I am an artist. I did this advert for a 'call to vote" back in August with a maximum of a month's buy out but it has resurfaced again painting me as "the face of Maandamano!"
Now that wasn't the deal nor agreement! https://t.co/Olz4ofHfvA— McBull G (@McBullGN) April 3, 2023
Last year, the music group Sauti Sol also threatened to sue Mr Odinga for playing their song without consent. This was after the coalition featured their hit song ‘Extravaganza’ during the unveiling of the outfit’s presidential running mate at the KICC.
“The Azimio la Umoja campaign through its flagbearer and presidential candidate, the Right Hon. Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga’s social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram) have without license nor authority used one of our more popular original compositions, “Extravaganza,” as a soundtrack to the announcement post of the running mate,” the group said in a statement.
They added, “We did not license this song to the Azimio La Umoja campaign neither did we give any consent for its use in the announcement of their Vice-Presidential candidate.”
Also read: EXCLUSIVE: Nadia Mukami opens up on temporary split with baby daddy Arrow Bwoy
Nairobi roars back to life after Raila calls off weekly protests