IN SHORT: The party symbol of Kenya’s governing UDA party is a wheelbarrow. But has the party gone so far in its exuberance at winning the elections as to hoist one atop the president’s official residence? No.
An image that seems to show a wheelbarrow mounted on the roof of Kenya’s State House has been doing the rounds on social media since 18 September 2022.
State House is the official residence of the country’s president.
Kenya went to the polls on 9 August. The winner, former deputy president William Ruto, was inaugurated as president on 13 September. This followed an unsuccessful court challenge by his main rival, former prime minister Raila Odinga.
Ruto ran on the ticket of the United Democratic Alliance, whose symbol is a wheelbarrow. This is a nod to the party’s stated goal of empowering poor Kenyans – popularly referred to as “hustlers”.
State House has been in the public eye since a Sunday Christian service was held there. Ruto presented himself as a prayerful man during his campaign.
Kenya’s constitution does not provide for a state religion.
But has a wheelbarrow really been mounted on State House?
Not a wheelbarrow in sight
A Google reverse image search of the image led us to a photo posted on the verified State House Kenya Facebook account on 16 September.
It’s the account’s new cover photo. In it, the Kenyan flag, the East African Community flag and the presidential flag can be seen on the roof.
There isn’t a wheelbarrow in sight. The circulating photo has been digitally manipulated.
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