IN SHORT: On 27 March 2023 an unidentified group invaded the powerful Kenyatta family’s Northlands estate on the outskirts of Nairobi. But a photo circulating on social media isn’t of the estate, but of a similarly named golf course very far away.
A photo circulating on Facebook in Kenya claims to show “Northlands City”, the estate owned by the family of former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta, posted with the caption “I never knew there were people who have been living in heaven all this while”.
It shows a large spot-lit sign for “Northlands Golf Course”, outside what appears to be a parking lot, with pine trees in the background. It was posted on 27 March 2023, and screenshots of the original post were shared the following day.
Northlands is a large 4,500 hectare (11,000 acre) estate, located 15 kilometres from Nairobi city centre in Ruiru, owned by the Kenyatta family. Jomo Kenyatta was the first president of democratic Kenya, while his son Uhuru Kenyatta was the fourth. The family reportedly plans to develop Northlands City - a mixed-use estate of residential, industrial and commercial units.
On 9 March unsuccessful presidential candidate and long serving politician Raila Odinga announced countrywide mass protests against the high cost of living and what he claims are electoral misconduct and dictatorial tactics of the incumbent government.
Odinga is the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party and Azimio la Umoja coalition.
The protests have been marred by clashes between protestors and police. During the second week of protests Northlands was invaded by an unidentified group On 27 March
The photo has been shared here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
But is it really from the Kenyatta’s Northlands estate?
Sign from a golf course located in western Canada
A reverse image search reveals that the photo is not of the Northland estate in Kenya, but of Northlands Golf Course in Vancouver, British Columbia, the westernmost province in Canada.
A search of their official Twitter page led us to a similar photo of the “Northlands Golf Course” sign, from a different angle.
The plans for Northlands City in Kenya may be luxurious, but this photo shows a golf course two continents and an ocean away.
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