Tweets shared on social media claim that these images were taken during Raila Odinga’s current visit to the United Kingdom. One post claims that the opposition leader met the UK’s leadership for bilateral talks. Similar claims were shared here, here, here, here.
Background
Opposition Leader Raila Odinga left for the United Kingdom on August 18, 2023, on a weeklong visit for business and private reasons according to his spokesperson Dennis Onyango. “He will use his stay in the UK to rest and relax, which he doesn’t do enough at home,” Dennis said. On his social media pages, Raila shared a photo with Delaware Senator Chris Coons whom he met at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport before his departure from Kenya.
Verification
A reverse image search of the first image reveals that it was first shared on Raila Odinga’s official Facebook page on March 15, 2022. The meeting with UK Minister for Armed Forces James Heappey was for discussions concerning security. “We had a robust discussion on matters appertaining to security with a view of enhancing our ties moving into the future,” the caption reads.
The second image was taken on August 15, 2022, at a discussion with leaders of the UK House of Commons.
Verdict
Claims that the images were taken during Raila Odinga’s recent visit to the UK are MISLEADING.
This fact check was published by Piga Firimbi with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and African Fact-Checking Alliance.
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