The protests in Kenya have spiralled out of control, leading to loss of life and property destruction, a considerable amount of fake news, disinformation, and misinformation is being peddled online, with hawk-eyed Kenyans spotting the misleading content.
Read Also: South African Murderer who faked his own Death discovered alive in Tanzania
In the wake of the violence that ensued and was captured on social media the Gen Z demonstrations quickly became trending topics and conversation starters as youth expressed their dissatisfaction with the controversial Finance Bill.
The image of a protester hitting a teargas canister with a tennis racket that was claimed to be from Kenya is actually from France, taken on June 2, 2016.
Although it was circulated on X (formerly Twitter) with the text claiming it was from the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations in Kenya, it’s confirmed to be FALSE.
The image was mistakenly associated with the protests in Kenya and was a case of misinformation owing to the trend of using Tennis rackets to repel teargas canisters in the protest.
A Google reverse search revealed that the photo was taken in Nantes, France, during protests against the government’s proposed labour law reforms. The image is credited to Stephane Mahe from Reuters.
Read Also: Fake Lawyer Exposed: LSK Asks DCI to Arrest Brian Mwenda
Similarly, a video that was circulating, purportedly showing people carrying fire in Githurai, Kenya, was filmed during the Bugum Chugu (Fire Festival) in Yendi, a town in Tishegu, northern Ghana.
The festival is a revered annual event filled with joy, rituals, and communal festivities to honour ancestors and seek blessings, happening in August, September, or October, based on the lunar calendar.
The video was initially posted on TikTok on August 8, 2022, by a user named @dopetrend and later uploaded to a YouTube channel on August 10, 2022.
It is crucial to verify the authenticity of such content as it can be misused to spread misinformation in different regions, as seen in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria at different times.
