Attached to this tweet is an image claiming to show Raila Odinga leading demonstrations in Gatundu with people chanting, “Ruto must go”.
Tweets bearing the same pictures were shared here and here with captions claiming that the locals were complaining about the high cost of living and the African Union firing Raila.
Background
President William Ruto’s administration is under pressure to lower the cost of living as promised while they were on the campaign trail. Azimio-One Kenya leader Raila Odinga is applying more pressure with his call for mass protest. After calls by various parties asking the opposition leader to call off the demonstrations slated for March 20, 2023. During a rally in Nakuru’s Mazembe Grounds, Odinga said he would not be intimidated by President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua.
Verification
Residents in Gatundu indeed held demonstrations on February 23, 2023. However, they were not demonstrating the high cost of living or Raila being fired but over the Sh13 billion Ndarugu II Dam project.
Farmers and locals were asked to turn over their land to allow for the construction of the dam but were not up for it. They argue that giving up their ancestral land will bring curses upon them and that the dam would make the area too cold, rendering it inhabitable. They also complained of inadequate consultation by the government and low compensation to people who will give up their land. On January 25, 2023, locals attacked officers from Athi Water Services who were there to conduct a geotechnical survey and collect soil samples.
Ruto must go! Wahome must go! Chants referring to the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Alice Wahome and the Head of State William Ruto were evident during the protests.
Verdict
Claims that the protests in Gatundu were over the high cost of living and the illegitimacy of the current regime are FALSE.
This fact-check was edited by Piga Firimbi Fact-Checking Editor Linda Ngari.
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