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‘Ruto will never be president’? No, photo of Kenyan deputy president doctored

An image showing Kenya’s deputy president William Ruto and Bumula MP Mwambu Mabonga standing at a shop window with a sign reading “RUTO WILL NEVER BE PRESIDENT” on the security bars has been posted on Facebook.

“Faking everything & employing every possible gimmick to steal people’s hearts won’t change the fact that the Ruto presidency is a pipe dream,” the caption reads.

Since Ruto declared that he will run for the presidency in the 2022 elections, Africa Check has had to debunk several false claims about him. Is the image more disinformation? We checked.



Ruto in Bungoma


A Google reverse image search reveals that the photo was taken on 27 September 2020. According to videos published on that day, Ruto spoke at Bumula, a small town in Bungoma county, before treating the constituents to some refreshment at a shop, where the image shared on Facebook shows him standing.

The reverse image search also brings up other photos taken on the day, which capture the sign. It does not read: “RUTO WILL NEVER BE PRESIDENT” but rather has the number and name of a mobile money transfer service agent.

Photos posted on Ruto’s Twitter account on 27 September show him with Mabonga and wearing the same clothes.

“Enjoyed a bottle of soda with fellow hustlers at Mama Mary’s Ebenezer shop after Sunday service in Bumula. May God bless Mama Mary’s hustle,” he tweeted. – Grace Gichuhi




 

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