As Kenya’s 2022 general election approaches, more and more fake newspaper front pages designed to stoke political controversy are circulating on social media.
One recent example is what appears to be a front page of the prominent Daily Nation, with the headline: “Ruto’s illegal maize sale to the NCPB.”
William Ruto is Kenya’s deputy president, and a leading candidate for the presidency in the upcoming election. The NCPB is the National Cereals and Produce Board, a state corporation that supports the growing, storage and marketing of grains in the country.
The page shows a photo of Ruto scratching his head and, although it is dated 6 April 2021, only started circulating in November. It reports on a looming “maize crisis” about which “technocrats and politicians” are “unable to agree on what to do”.
But is this really what Daily Nation reported in April?
Report on five presidential contenders
A search of Daily Nation’s Facebook page reveals that the headline on the paper’s 6 April 2021 issue actually reads: “Succession: Why 2022 is a do-or-die”.
The page doesn’t show a photo of Ruto scratching his head, and reports on the five leading presidential contenders who may succeed current president Uhuru Kenyatta, whose second and final term in office ends in 2022.
And a search of the paper’s website did not return any April 2021 report about Ruto and an “illegal maize sale”.
The front page circulating on Facebook has been photoshopped.
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Further Reading
A cloudy outlook? What we are learning about election disinformation in Africa and what you can do about it
As nearly a dozen countries prepare to hold presidential elections, the spread of disinformation is inflaming Africa's political landscape.
‘Saving face’ and the subsidy that disappeared: Fact-checking Kenyan deputy president Gachagua's media claims
Did officials take president William Ruto's budget out of spite? We took a closer look.
FACTSHEET: 22 quick facts about Kenya’s 2022 election
Let us bring you up to speed on what you should know about one of the most-watched elections on the continent.
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