A Facebook post containing a video showing commotion involving a convoy of cars and a crowd claims to portray a crowd at Gikomba area chasing Deputy President William Ruto.
According to the post that was published on the Bigwig Kenya News Facebook page on September 20, the crowd allegedly threw stones at the Deputy President (DP) while he was addressing them and this brought about commotion when policemen attached to DP Ruto supposedly fired tear gas canisters to contain the crowd.
Background
Senior political leaders in Kenya like former Primer Minister and opposition leader, Raila Odinga, Deputy President Ruto as well as President Uhuru Kenyatta, have recently held rallies that attracted large crowds despite the threat of masses contracting the COVID-19 virus.
Uhuru in Ruaka today.
People Told him Wanangoja H.E Baba to take them to Canaan.#CanaanExpress pic.twitter.com/MB6WvtSxN9
— Mr. Kinuthia Pius. (@Belive_Kinuthia) September 9, 2020
The three have been criticized for flouting COVID-19 measures by holding rallies where social distancing is never applied while they, on the other hand, go “maskless” or fail to wear masks appropriately during these gatherings.
This is while COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 731 Kenyans, with a total of 39,427 confirmed cases as of October 4.
Verification
While DP Ruto did address a crowd at Nairobi’s Gikomba area on September 20, the video published on the Bigwig Kenya News Facebook page does not show events that occurred then.
Addressed wananchi at Gikomba on our way from worshipping at the AIC Ziwani, Starehe, Nairobi County, accompanied by 15 Members of Parliament. pic.twitter.com/jYrbjQ60Np
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) September 20, 2020
A Google reverse image search reveals that the video is actually from events that took place in Mumias county on January 18, 2020.
According to a KTN report, the video shows police officers dispersing a crowd that was supposed to attend a rally to be held by a section of Mumias county leaders who were opposed to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
Verdict
The Facebook post claiming to show a video of Deputy President William Ruto being chased by a crowd at Gikomba area in Nairobi is FALSE.
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