Kimilili constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Didmus Barasa has urged Kenyans to respect former Prime Minister Raila Odinga amid the passing of Pope Francis.
Barasa, in a statement shared via his official social media accounts on Monday, April 21, 2025, condemned Kenyans for editing and circulating images depicting Raila in the Pope’s attire.
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) lawmaker further urged Kenyans to use digital spaces as tools for unity and nation-building, and not for division and propaganda.
He went ahead to state that Raila, as a prominent and respected leader in the country, deserves to be treated with dignity.
Barasa on respect to church
According to Barasa, the circulation of edited images depicting him in the Pope’s attire is deeply disrespectful—not only to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader but also to the Catholic Church and the entire Christian fraternity.
“I humbly urge all Kenyans, especially Wamunyoro disciples, to use these spaces as tools for unity and nation-building, not division and propaganda. Rt. Hon. @RailaOdinga is a prominent and respected leader in our country who deserves to be treated with dignity. The circulation of edited images depicting him in the Pope’s attire is deeply disrespectful—not only to him but also to the Catholic Church and the entire Christian fraternity. As we stand in solidarity with the Catholic Church and the global Christian community mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis,” Barasa stated.
Following the passing of Pope Francis, a section of Kenyans online started circulating edited images depicting Raila in the Pope’s attire, with messages that indicated that the former prime minister was part of the top contenders for the now vacant position at the Vatican.
The doctored images, however, started circulating first in February 2025 when the Pope fell ill.
At the time, Raila had lost the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship position to Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, with his critics who were seemingly laughing off suggesting that he should try a stab at the papacy.
Pope’s death
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and the first non-European pope in over 1,200 years, died on Monday following a prolonged battle with pneumonia.
He had recently been discharged from the hospital in Rome and was continuing his recovery at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta residence.
The Argentine-born pope had led the Catholic Church since 2013, bringing a reformist and pastoral tone to the papacy.