Did Kenyan Officials Who Attended The United Nations General Assembly Go On A Taxpayer- Funded Shopping Spree In New York ?  

By Rebecca Odhiambo

A post shared on X by the account Afrocentric (@Afro_254) on September 26, 2026, claims that Kenyan government officials who travelled to New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) went on a taxpayer-funded shopping spree. 

The post, captioned  “ Gucci gang, Gucci gang, Gucci gang , Gucci gang. UNGA joyriders, taxpayer funded shopping spree in NY ,” is accompanied by an image showing several men in suits carrying Gucci, Prada, Nike and Apple shopping bags. At the time of review, the post had recorded 85.8K views, 2.3 likes, 784 reposts and 109 comments, indicating significant reach and engagement on the platform.

A review of the account shows that it regularly posts and amplifies content about Kenyan politics, government and protests.

Background

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is the primary policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations and was established in 1945 under the United Nations Charter. Based at the United Nations  Headquarters in New York, it is the only United Nations  body where all 193 member states have equal representation and voting power. Every year in September, world leaders convene for its high-level session to debate pressing international issues, elect non-permanent Security Council members, approve the United Nations  budget, and draft resolutions aimed at promoting global peace, human rights, and sustainable development. President William Ruto travelled to New York on September 19, 2026,  to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly 

Ruto’s attendance was significant because the meeting brought together more than 150 Heads of State and Government, providing Kenya with an opportunity to advance its diplomatic and economic interests. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenya sought to engage on issues including debt sustainability, climate finance, digital trade and regional security. The government also viewed the high-level meeting as an opportunity to attract investment, promote green growth and support job creation through economic diplomacy.

Ruto was accompanied by several senior government officials, including seven Cabinet Secretaries : Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Alice Wahome, Hassan Joho, Opiyo Wandayi, Lee Kinyanjui, Julius Ogamba and William Kabogo. Other senior government officials, including Cabinet Secretaries Aden Duale and Deborah Mulongo Barasa, were also reported at various engagements in New York during the United Nations General Assembly period. Their presence in New York generated public debate, particularly over the size and cost of the delegation. Daily Nation reported that senators questioned why seven Cabinet Secretaries needed to accompany the President, while government-aligned senators argued that the ministers could conduct bilateral engagements and other government business alongside the United Nations General Assembly programme. 

 Verification

A review of credible reports confirms that Kenyan government officials were in New York during the United Nations General Assembly period and that concerns were raised over the size and cost of the delegation. 

Kenyan media outlets, including The Star and Daily Nation , published photographs of President Ruto and his delegation walking in New York during the United Nations  General Assembly. Coverage focused on their official meetings, bilateral engagements, and routine activities.

There is no credible evidence in any reviewed sources or reports to support claims that the officials in the X post purchased luxury goods such as Gucci, Prada, Nike, or Apple products or that taxpayer funds were spent on a shopping spree.

To verify the post’s authenticity, Piga Firimbi ran a reverse image search on the photo. The search led us back to the original, unedited photo of the Kenyan delegation walking to the United Nations General Assembly. The results indicated the image was digitally manipulated and had signs of being AI-generated.  The brand logos are blurry and warped, the lighting looks unnatural, and the bags don’t blend properly with the officials’ hands. This verification proves that AI tools were used  to fake the image, digitally adding the luxury shopping bags onto a real photo.

Verdict

The claim that Kenyan officials who attended the United Nations General Assembly went on a taxpayer-funded shopping spree in New York is FALSE.