AI? Questions Raised as Ruto and Mombasa Governor Post Near-Identical Tributes to Cyrus Jirongo
President William Ruto has come under online scrutiny after Kenyans noticed striking similarities between his condolence message and an earlier post by Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, reigniting debate over the growing use of artificial intelligence in official government communication.
The controversy emerged following the death of veteran politician and businessman Cyrus Jirongo, who died in a road accident. Both leaders took to social media to mourn the former legislator, but sharp-eyed users quickly observed that the wording of President Ruto’s message closely mirrored Governor Nassir’s earlier tribute.
When placed side by side, the two statements appeared nearly identical in structure, phrasing, and descriptive language, prompting accusations of plagiarism and speculation that artificial intelligence tools may have been used to generate the messages.
In his post, President Ruto described Jirongo as “a relentless go-getter, a seasoned businessman, and a consummate politician who refused to be defined, let alone defeated, by life’s challenges.” He went on to say that the late politician “was a fighter in every sense: blunt yet warm, bold yet approachable, enlightened and endlessly entrepreneurial.”
Governor Nassir’s original message, posted earlier, read: “Cyrus was a relentless go-getter, a seasoned businessman, and a consummate politician who refused to be defined — let alone defeated — by life’s challenges. He was a fighter in every sense of the word: blunt yet warm, bold yet approachable, enlightened and endlessly entrepreneurial.” His statement also included an additional line praising Jirongo’s “courage, resilience, and clarity of conviction” in public life.
Following mounting online reactions, Governor Nassir edited his post on X at 11:10am, replacing it with a revised message that read: “Cyrus was a force of nature — fearless, driven, and unapologetically authentic. A sharp political mind and an astute businessman, he met life head-on and refused to be boxed in by circumstance or convention.”
Unlike Facebook, X visibly indicates when a post has been edited and timestamps any changes, a feature that further fuelled online discussion.
The similarities between the original messages sparked a wave of criticism, with some social media users questioning the role of communication teams attached to senior government offices. One X user wrote: “I wonder why they have communication personnel. If all they do is ChatGPT condolences.”
Another added: “They’re both heads of governments and even generating prompts bado ni ngumu,” while a third critic commented: “This is beyond plagiarism.”
The incident has reopened wider conversations around the use of artificial intelligence in public communication. AI text generators rely on large language models and natural language processing to produce human-like content based on prompts. Trained on vast datasets, these tools can generate polished statements, speeches, and summaries, and are increasingly used in corporate and political settings. Popular platforms include OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.
The debate comes just months after ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo spearheaded the Kenya AI & Software Summit, a two-day conference aimed at positioning Kenya as a regional leader in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. According to the summit’s organisers, the forum sought to promote dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and partnerships in software development and AI innovation.
Speaking at the event, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi outlined the government’s ambitions, saying: “With more than 60 per cent of Africa’s population under the age of 25, our youth remain our most valuable asset, the driving force that will power the continent’s digital transformation.” He added that Kenya aims to become the epicentre of software development and AI innovation in Africa.
However, public reaction to AI use by leaders has remained mixed. Earlier this year, Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris defended politicians who use AI tools, urging Kenyans to focus on the technology’s benefits rather than ridicule.
In a post dated May 11, 2025, Passaris said AI makes work “easier, faster, and more efficient,” revealing that she created a Mother’s Day poster in under a minute. “Some mock leaders for using AI. I say be proud of it!” she wrote. “AI makes life easier, more efficient, and empowering. Let’s embrace the future.”
Her comments came amid sustained online criticism and harassment directed at her, including incidents where her private contact details were circulated on social media.
Also Read: Education Ministry Issues Grade 10 Replacement Guidelines with Strict Deadline
AI? Questions Raised as Ruto and Mombasa Governor Post Near-Identical Tributes to Cyrus Jirongo