What seems to be a letter from Kenya’s Kisii county government, posted on Facebook, accuses boda boda motorbike taxi drivers of burning the official car of deputy county governor Joash Maangi. It suggests that the arson was in support of deputy president William Ruto.
The vehicle was torched on 17 February 2021 after a road accident in which two people died, according to news reports.
“Our attention has also been drawn to hundreds of unruly riders who stormed the scene and set the vehicle on fire. The unruly bodaboda riders were chanting terms that indicated their sworn allegiance to the Hustler's Movement,” the letter reads.
“A bodaboda rider is on record claiming that the deputy governor is a member of a dynasty and that he should be taught a lesson for disrespecting the hustlers.”
The letter appears to be signed by Isaac Ongiri, the county government’s communications director.
The hustler movement is associated with Ruto, who uses the narrative to appeal to low-income earners in his campaign for the 2022 presidential election.
He has been accused of sparking class war between the haves – people from “dynasties” – and the have nots, or “hustlers”.
Police announce cause of incidents
It is unlikely that a county government would draw such a quick conclusion to such a sensitive matter. Usually, it is the police who issue statements on accidents and their investigations.
In January the police warned boda boda riders against taking law into their hands after being accused of targeting people from “dynasties.”
‘This is fake stuff’
On 18 February the Kisii county government posted the letter on its official Twitter page, stamped “FAKE”.
“We have noticed the circulation of the attached fraudulent document,” it tweeted. “It is for the notice of the general public that the county government of Kisii has not shared information on the subject detailed in the fake notice. We urge the public to treat it as fake news.”
We have noticed the circulation of the attached fraudulent document. It is for the NOTICE of the general public that the County Government of Kisii has not shared information on the subject detailed in the Fake Notice.We urge the public to treat it as Fake News. pic.twitter.com/tz1iTNaUJV
— KisiiCounty (@KisiiCountyGov) February 18, 2021
Ongiri also tweeted the letter, saying: “This is fake stuff. It did not come from me. Kisii County Government has nothing to do with it. Just ignore.”
This is fake https://t.co/cRZEJJqCbc did not come from me.Kisii County Government has nothing to do with it.Just ignore @KisiiCountyGov pic.twitter.com/cEoNMu96W2
— Isaac Ongiri (@Ongiri2) February 18, 2021
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