Several Kenyan celebrities have recently been accused of dishonesty and lying, causing an uproar among fans and followers.
These incidents have led to public outrage and debates about the responsibilities and ethics of public figures in Kenyan entertainment; recent events have highlighted the dangers of lying or altering the truth for clout chasing, relevance, or getting attention.
From Vivian Kenya’s controversial post about cancer and death to Odi wa Murang’a’s accusations of harassment by bouncers and Nasra’s fake Beyonce gig, celebrities’ credibility has been scrutinized.
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Vivian Kenya found herself in the eye of a storm over a post about death and cancer, complete with a picture of a lady in a hospital bed. Many rushed to offer condolences, but when she released a song titled ‘Cancer,’ even more people felt cheated.
Odi wa Murang’a, a member of the music group Boondocks, was embroiled in a saga when a video emerged of him claiming a bouncer harassed him at a lounge. Eric Omondi later called Odi a liar and shared a video of him disappearing towards the washroom with a lady, sparking a back-and-forth of counterclaims. Odi denies it was him in the video and plans to take legal action against the bouncers.
Nasra, a former Churchill Live comedian, has been caught twice lying to netizens, including pretending she was organizing a Beyonce gig and posting someone else’s hotel bill as hers. While she claims to have done it for laughs, the incidents have raised questions about her credibility.
Agnes Nonsizi, a publicist, media personality, music executive, YouTuber, voice-over artist, and events host, warns that lying or altering the truth can cost artists their credibility, which can impact relationships with corporates or other brands. Nonsizi believes that owning up is the only way to go when caught out.
“PR is not only about altering the truth or being economical with it; it is about building relationships which cannot be built without trust,” she says.
These recent events serve as a reminder that honesty is always the best policy. While it may be tempting to lie or alter the truth for attention or relevance, the consequences can be severe. Celebrities must remember that they are building a brand and should be built on authenticity, not lies. When caught out, owning up is the best way to regain trust and credibility.
