California, 25 March, 2020 / 6:41 am (ACI Africa).
A Kenyan-born Franciscan Capuchin Friar based in the U.S. has lamented the use of his picture by multiple media outlets in Kenya to tell the story of the Kenyan priest who is among the 26 individuals in the East African nation infected with COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.
“I wish to state that I am Fr. Robert Onyango Sewe, a Franciscan Capuchin Friar and currently I am based in the United States of America. I am saddened and shocked to learn that my picture and my name is trending in the social media for wrong reasons,” the Friar said in a video message and confirmed to ACI Africa in a phone interview Tuesday, March 24.
He identified K24 TV, a Kenyan television station known to have pioneered live streaming of programs on the Internet, and a Facebook post by Yassin Juma among forums where his picture was used in telling the story of Fr. Richard Oduor who recently tested positive for COVID-19.
Making particular reference to Yassin Juma, Fr. Robert said in the 1 min 28 sec. video, “I don't know who the blogger is, but I call upon him to withdraw this picture with immediate effect and apologize.”
“My dear people, this is the biggest scam ever I am witnessing in my life,” the Capuchin cleric who is currently based in La Canada, California at St Francis High School said in his video and added, “I am taking a stern legal action against whoever the blogger is.”
