Kaluma gifts 'talented' Gen Z Sh10,000 for AI-generated image of Raila, sparks debate

Homabay Town MP Peter Kaluma has awarded a Gen Z KSh10,000 for creating an animation of his photo alongside former Prime Minister Raila Odinga — a gesture that quickly sparked online debate.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kaluma shared a side-by-side image of himself and Raila next to an animated version of the photo styled in the iconic Studio Ghibli aesthetic. He captioned it:
“Talent! This Gen Z has won KSh10,000, just like that!”

The post drew swift reactions, with many users criticizing the MP for being seemingly unaware that the artwork was AI-generated — part of a viral trend recreating photos in the style of the famed Japanese animation studio.

One user, @githii, commented: “You call this talent? It’s just AI-generated by a Gen Z using tools like Grok — zero skill involved. Embarrassing for an MP to be this out of touch.”

Another, @d_sakong, added: “Give credit to AI.”

Others focused on the prize money itself, with @kennethotollo posting: “What is 10K in this economy?”

Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa also weighed in, quoting Kaluma's post and criticizing him for failing to recognize AI-generated content.

“Your ignorance just cost you 10K. In seconds, the tech-savvy Gen Z knew you wouldn’t recognize AI — or even know what Ghibli is,” he said.

The trend of transforming images into anime-style illustrations has surged online, fueled by AI tools that emulate the signature look of Studio Ghibli — the studio behind classics like Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and My Neighbor Totoro.

OpenAI’s image generator is among the leading tools powering this trend.

However, the widespread use of such tools has raised copyright concerns, prompting OpenAI to restrict Ghibli-style prompts and limit access for free-tier users.

OpenAI, also the parent company of ChatGPT, has been at the center of debates over AI’s role in creative industries.

In a recent interview, CEO Sam Altman defended the technology’s artistic applications, saying it democratizes creativity.

“Taste still really matters,” Altman said. “We still need a lot of good graphic design in the world.”

While acknowledging that AI might replace some tasks, Altman added that the demand for quality design and creative direction could, in fact, be growing.