A Kenyan senator is giving away cash to help people through the “difficult situations” of the Covid-19 outbreak, claim posts on a Facebook page using the name “Senator Gideon Moi”.
Gideon Moi represents Baringo county in Kenya’s senate.
“Am giving out KSh20,000 to all Kenyan citizens to at least save them in these difficult situations,” one post reads. “Kindly send me your Mpesa number through inbox in order to serve you easily and keep a way con men's who may take your number to con you.”
M-Pesa is a mobile money transfer system widely used in Kenya.
Another post reads: “I will share with you Kenyans the small I have at this season and KSh10,000 is what I will give you as my great Kenyans. Kindly send me your Mpesa or Airtel number through inbox ...”
Is the senator really giving away money?
Africa Check asked Alex Kiprotich, the senator’s communication aide, if the Facebook page and posts were legitimate.
“Those are lies. That's a fake account that someone has created,” he told us.
A look through the page transparency details of the fake page shows that it has just over 700 followers, and was set up on 2 April 2020. – Dancan Bwire
Gideon Moi represents Baringo county in Kenya’s senate.
“Am giving out KSh20,000 to all Kenyan citizens to at least save them in these difficult situations,” one post reads. “Kindly send me your Mpesa number through inbox in order to serve you easily and keep a way con men's who may take your number to con you.”
M-Pesa is a mobile money transfer system widely used in Kenya.
Another post reads: “I will share with you Kenyans the small I have at this season and KSh10,000 is what I will give you as my great Kenyans. Kindly send me your Mpesa or Airtel number through inbox ...”
Is the senator really giving away money?
‘Fake account’
Africa Check asked Alex Kiprotich, the senator’s communication aide, if the Facebook page and posts were legitimate.
“Those are lies. That's a fake account that someone has created,” he told us.
A look through the page transparency details of the fake page shows that it has just over 700 followers, and was set up on 2 April 2020. – Dancan Bwire
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