An image of a convoy of cars is part of a tweet published on October 4 on Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale’s Twitter account and is supposedly meant to show what happened at a political rally held on the same day in Nairobi’s Githurai area.
Text on the senator’s tweet suggests that Senator Khalwale, who was part of a political entourage that included Deputy President William Ruto, Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria and other MPs attracted a lot of supporters which “brought Githurai to a standstill”.
This image was also shared on a tweet posted on Senator Muthama’s account.
Accompanied The Deputy President @WilliamsRuto for a church service at AIPCA Kenol, Kandara Constituency, Muranga Constituency hosted by Hon Alice Muthoni Wahome and co hosted by Hon Ndindi Nyoro. With us was 40 Members of Parliament.#HustlerNation #RutoMashinani
Sote Pamoja pic.twitter.com/bor7BuAgds— Sen.Johnson Nduya Muthama (@nduyamuthama) October 4, 2020
Background
Lately, political rallies in Kenya have attracted large crowds despite the threat of masses contracting COVID-19. Piga Firimbi previously published an article highlighting political leaders’ disregard for measures against COVID-19 while holding political campaigns.
This is while the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Health Mutahi Kagwe on October 18 warned that Kenya is “without doubt” heading for a second wave of high COVID-19 infections. There has been a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, which according to CS Kagwe began after President Uhuru Kenyatta relaxed some of the COVID-19 measures. As of October 19, Kenya had recorded a total of 45,076 COVID-19 cases and 839 deaths. Check our COVID-19 tracker for current information.
Verification
Senator Khalwale’s tweet contains two images, one showing a crowd of people surrounding cars- which was also published on the deputy president’s Twitter handle, and another showing a long convoy of cars on the road.
Nairobi has spoken. We have brought Githurai to a standstill. Present @WilliamsRuto @nduyamuthama @kipmurkomen @HonMoses_Kuria plus 39 other MPs attended pic.twitter.com/y6qZ10NBoE
— Dr Boni Khalwale, CBS (@KBonimtetezi) October 4, 2020
While the image that contains a crowd is indeed from the October 4 rally in Githurai, the image showing a convoy of cars on the road is not.
A Google image reverse search reveals that the image with a convoy of cars is actually from 2018. The image was featured in articles published on the News Beezer and Kenyans websites on November 15, 2018 showing a convoy of cars in Eldoret Town, transporting the Late Paul Teigut’s body from the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for his funeral in Turbo Constituency.
Paul Teigut is the father to Farouk Kibet, who is DP Ruto’s personal assistant. The funeral was attended by political leaders such as the deputy president and some of his political allies.
Verdict
An image claiming to show a convoy of cars that were at DP Ruto’s political rally in Githurai on October 4 is FALSE.
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