The Facebook page “Dorcas Rigathi” claims to show the whereabouts and engagements of the wife of Rigathi Gachagua, Kenya’s deputy president-elect.
Gachagua was the running mate of United Democratic Alliance presidential candidate William Ruto. Kenyans voted on 9 August 2022.
On 15 August, Kenyan electoral commission chair Wafula Chebukati declared Ruto president-elect.
His main rival, Azimio la Umoja coalition leader Raila Odinga, rejected the results and filed a petition in the supreme court. On 5 September judges upheld Ruto’s victory.
A recent post on the “Dorcas Rigathi” page, dated 4 September, reads: “I need a good tailor to make me a yellow dress. Tomorrow we are celebrating the victory.”
Africa Check has previously exposed Facebook accounts that impersonated public figures. Is this another? We checked.
‘Do not entertain any other accounts’
Dorcas Rigathi’s real Facebook page is unverified. But she recently posted a warning about the imposter “Dorcas Rigathi” page that included a screenshot stamped “FAKE”.
She wrote: “ATTENTION TO EVERYONE : First, I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to all of you who support and show their utmost appreciation to me and to everything that I do. But let us please become more aware of FAKE PAGE.
“This is MY ONLY PAGE PLEASE DO NOT ENTERTAIN ANY OTHER ACCOUNTS UNDER MY NAME, OR ANY OTHER PAGE USING MY PICTURES WITH DIFFERENT NAMES. This is just to raise awareness since my posers have been posting my pictures with malicious captions."
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