“Raila Odinga Voted Person of the Year in Africa,” the popular Facebook page Raila Odinga - The Kenya We Want (@RailaToStatehouse) told its 165,000 followers in October 2018. Odinga unsuccessfully ran for the presidency in 2017.
The post linked to an article on the People’s Daily News, illustrated with what seemed to be a cover of Time magazine with a strapline declaring Odinga the “greatest African statesman”. The article said Odinga had been “voted the greatest persona of the year” by “The Times”.
The post appeared shortly after Odinga was appointed to a continental position at the African Union where he will campaign for better infrastructure.
Africa Check contacted the US-based Time to confirm if it had honoured Odinga in this way.
“This cover is not authentic. Although Time has reported on Kenya and Mr Odinga in the past, he has never been featured on the cover of the magazine,” a spokesperson said via email.
“He has also never been named the ‘Great[est] African Statesman’ by Time.” - Alphonce Shiundu (26/10/18)
The post linked to an article on the People’s Daily News, illustrated with what seemed to be a cover of Time magazine with a strapline declaring Odinga the “greatest African statesman”. The article said Odinga had been “voted the greatest persona of the year” by “The Times”.
The post appeared shortly after Odinga was appointed to a continental position at the African Union where he will campaign for better infrastructure.
Africa Check contacted the US-based Time to confirm if it had honoured Odinga in this way.
“This cover is not authentic. Although Time has reported on Kenya and Mr Odinga in the past, he has never been featured on the cover of the magazine,” a spokesperson said via email.
“He has also never been named the ‘Great[est] African Statesman’ by Time.” - Alphonce Shiundu (26/10/18)
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Further Reading
[email protected]: The challenges of working across Africa
Misinformation knows no borders and Africa Check often responds to similar false claims from country to country.
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