Seraphine Mbote Wangui [PHOTO/Standard]
The Kenyan woman in Zanzibar who was captured in photos posing with NASA leader Raila Odinga has opened up on her experience.
Seraphine Wambui Mbote, 37, has a harrowing tale of how her life was put on scrutiny while she was being insulted and mocked, while others praised her in equal measure.
She said Kenyans accused her of being a gold-digger.
Others speculated that she was the same woman who was seen embracing President Uhuru Kenyatta at another function during his campaigns in Machakos this year.
“They were all lies. I was cyber bullied for a very innocent photo. Nobody believed me when I explained how I got to be in Raila’s photo, Mbote said as reported by Saturday Standard.
“I was in a hotel, and I saw someone resembling Raila. I shouted: Baba! And he turned. I was so excited that I found myself running to hug him,” Mbote says.
Ms Mbote said Raila was sitting with his friends when she requested for a photo with him, which he accepted.
It was then, she said, that they moved to a place with good lighting before the photo was taken by one of Raila’s friends.
“There is nothing more. I asked for a photo, and I was so excited that he obliged,” she said.
“I cannot believe that a single photo almost brought down everything I have worked for. I am just a woman who beat all odds to be where I am now,” she added.
But she is far from regretting.
“I don’t regret putting up that photo. I have not pulled it down even after hundreds of people called to request that I do. I am not ashamed of anything,” she added.