Ezra Chiloba, the former head of Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, is in a “critical condition” with prostate cancer, claims an August 2019 blog post.
In July three prominent Kenyans died of cancer. As Africa Check previously reported, the deaths revived media rumours about high numbers of government leaders reportedly being treated for cancer.
The blog says Chiloba has been in and out of an induced coma at a Nairobi hospital.
The article was shared on Facebook, with users wishing Chiloba a “quick recovery”. Some went further to claim he had died, posting “RIP Ezrah Chilobe”.
But on 2 August Chiloba took to his official Twitter account to dismiss the story that he has cancer.
He tweeted: “Please ignore the FAKE NEWS doing rounds. Those spreading rumours are insensitive to the pain of those who suffer from cancer. I am well, and just yesterday, I clocked my fastest 10.5 kilometres run for which I am grateful.” – Dancan Bwire
In July three prominent Kenyans died of cancer. As Africa Check previously reported, the deaths revived media rumours about high numbers of government leaders reportedly being treated for cancer.
The blog says Chiloba has been in and out of an induced coma at a Nairobi hospital.
The article was shared on Facebook, with users wishing Chiloba a “quick recovery”. Some went further to claim he had died, posting “RIP Ezrah Chilobe”.
‘Ignore fake news’
But on 2 August Chiloba took to his official Twitter account to dismiss the story that he has cancer.
He tweeted: “Please ignore the FAKE NEWS doing rounds. Those spreading rumours are insensitive to the pain of those who suffer from cancer. I am well, and just yesterday, I clocked my fastest 10.5 kilometres run for which I am grateful.” – Dancan Bwire
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Misinformation knows no borders and Africa Check often responds to similar false claims from country to country.
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