Cartoonist Gideon Kibet, also known as Kibet Bull or Yoko, has been compelled to issue a clarification following a complaint from a Kenyan who claimed that he lost his job days after the cartoonist resurfaced.
Kibet had been missing for more than 10 days after he was allegedly abducted which sparked widespread concern.
On Wednesday, January 8, X influencer George Diano came forward with a statement in which he revealed that he was dismissed from his job at a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) after being accused of funding Bull.
This followed the discovery of a transaction by detectives between the two that Diano said took place about a week before Kibet’s reported abduction.
According to Diano, his dismissal occurred after his boss was linked to the accusations, placing him and his employer under scrutiny.
In his statement, Diano explained that his connection to Kibet was limited to professional transactions.
“I gave Kibet Bull a gig and paid him for his work. But when the DCI (Directorate of Criminal Investigations) took my phone, they found the payments, and that’s when the accusations started,” Diano explained.
He revealed that after the discovery, the authorities began pursuing him and his boss, linking them to the claims that they were funding Kibet’s activities.
George Diano loses his job
The situation escalated to the point where Diano’s employer came under suspicion, ultimately resulting in his termination.
Also Read: Kibet Bull Speaks for the First Time After His Release
Diano clarified that his only involvement was paying for a legitimate service provided by Kibet and expressed frustration over Bull’s silence in the unfair consequences he had faced.
“I don’t blame my employer for my unlawful dismissal, which was termed as unpaid leave pending investigations; it was a decision that didn’t require much consideration. I’ve tried to plead with Kibet Bull to come out and denounce the claims of him being funded by me, but apparently, he has gone silent despite assuring me yesterday morning that he would do so,” said the influencer.
Diano added, “He has completely thrown me under the bus, yet he knows I have nothing to do with his online activism. If there was someone who was funding him then that’s none of my concern. I just gave him a gig just like any other influencers.”
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Cartoonist breaks silence
In response to the situation, Kibet Bull cleared the air and clarified the misunderstanding surrounding the accusations of funding, asserting that Diano’s involvement was limited to a straightforward business transaction.
Also Read: Omtatah Reveals Details of Meeting with Kibet Bull Before Abduction
The cartoonist who is known for his viral silhouettes of President William Ruto, added that George is a great friend while emphasizing the purely professional nature of their interaction.
“George Diano gave me a gig and paid me. After the DCI took my phone, they found the payments, so they’ve been following him and his boss, accusing them of funding me,” Kibet said.
Kibet further explained, “George Diano just wanted me to justify that he gave me a gig and paid me. The DCI have been following him, accusing them of funding me. I heard he lost his job because of this.”
This comes after Bull was released following his alleged abduction in Nairobi by suspected security officials on December 24, 2024, shortly after meeting Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah at the latter’s office in Nairobi.
His family confirmed his safe return earlier on Monday this week, noting that he has since returned to Nakuru.
Kibet announced his release via social media platform X, revealing that he was dumped in the Luanda area of Vihiga County around 3-4 a.m. on Monday.
Stranded and unsure of his next steps, he reportedly attended a local “disco matanga” (overnight funeral dance) before booking a bus ticket home.
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