Mike Sonko, former Nairobi County Governor shared a controversial Star Newspaper cover page on his Twitter account, the graphics was retweeted several times.
We have since counterchecked with The Star publisher, know for its bold and sensational headlines and established that the circulating headlines is FAKE and was produced for political propaganda.
The falsified post is political misinformation designed to incite, cause unrest and uncertainty about the government’s stance towards its opposition. Raila Amollo Odinga, the opposition leader, recently expressed interest in running for the African Union (AU) chairperson, and Kenya President William Ruto who has been his archrival, in twist of events endorsed Raila’s quest.
The two, President Ruto and Odinga in their shuttle diplomacy travelled to Uganda and met Ugand’s President Yoweri Museveni to firm up East Africa’s block vote. Pictures from the Uganda meet-up stirred political discussion in Kenya.
Pundits think that Ruto’s endorsement of Odinga in the AU top job may have loosen up his hardline position on coallotion government attempt by Odinga as has been witnessed in the past where he has always found his way to ruling governments. Daniel Moi who ruled for 24 years found himself going to bed with Odinga, Mwai Kibaki in cutthroat politics and post election violence ended up in a coallotion government dubbed the ‘nusu mkate’ and recently Uhuru Kenyatta through a political push back succumbed to ‘hand shake’, welcoming Odinga on table that did not augur well with his then Deputy William Ruto.
Through what political analysts opine as back-door entry to government, Odinga has always gotten away with polical positions with his close allies benefiting. The circulating Fake Star Newspaper headline purports that Raila allies are pitched to land top government jobs in a claimed cabinet reshervals.
Digital media consumers need to verify information circulated even through verified account holders as they may maliciously disseminate fake news and images for selfish political gains.
