IN SHORT: Several videos on TikTok and YouTube claim that William Ruto collapsed and was rushed to hospital. But they are all false and use manipulated photos and unrelated clips.
Several videos on TikTok and YouTube with Kiswahili narration can be found online, with the claim that Kenyan president William Ruto became unwell and was hospitalised.
The most-viewed clip was uploaded to TikTok in mid-July 2025. It claims that Ruto collapsed at State House in the capital Nairobi and was rushed to the private Aga Khan Hospital. The video begins with footage of a convoy of vehicles with flashing lights and loud sirens.
It then shows a photo of Ruto looking unwell, another of him seemingly lying in a hospital bed, and an image of first lady Rachel Ruto, looking distressed. The video is accompanied by a voice narrating in Kiswahili. The voiceover claims that doctors failed to stabilise Ruto and that he is “now” in intensive care.
The clip has the sensational caption reading: “Maajabu … Laana! Ruto hospitalized after Kenyans prophesied doom for him!!!”
“Maajabu … laana” roughly translates to: “Unbelievable… a curse!”
The image in the clip has a breaking news caption that reads: “Ruto hospitalized today.” The video has over 1.1 million views and 24,000 likes.
Political tensions fueling disinformation
The videos spread at a time of political tensions in Kenya, especially between the government and the youth. Since 2024, many young people have protested issues like the economy, police violence and political repression. Ruto’s government has been criticised for responding to protests with force, including killings and abductions.
In 2024, Africa Check debunked the false claim that Ruto had been rushed abroad for emergency treatment. So, are these latest videos of Ruto in hospital true, or just more false claims? We checked.
Old photos, manipulated image and unrelated footage
The viral TikTok video is completely false. The image of Ruto looking unwell is from 2016. Ruto posted the photo himself on X, then Twitter, in August 2016, saying he was being treated for flu while opening a hospital. Africa Check has previously debunked other claims that have used this same image to spread misinformation.
The image of Ruto supposedly in a hospital bed has clearly been edited. His head has been superimposed onto someone else’s body.
Finally, the clip of the speeding convoy with sirens is not from Kenya. It appears to have been filmed in the US state of Kentucky, near the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital. The vehicles have US markings, including one car that is clearly labelled “Fayette Sheriff”, a police department near the hospital.
If Ruto collapsed and was hospitalised at any time, it would be reported by credible news outlets. But Africa Check could find no such reports. On the contrary, the president has been consistently active since the videos started circulating. His public engagements are updated on his social media and government pages.
Claims that Ruto collapsed and was hospitalised in July 2025 are false. The videos use old, doctored photos and unrelated clips alongside false narration to spread misinformation.
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