Kenya: Did Lawyer Miguna Miguna Say President's Diplomacy Was 'Shambolic'? No, Quote Fabricated

25 May 2023
Africa Check (Johannesburg)
By Grace Gichuhi

IN SHORT: After a series of blunders, a top lawyer has criticised Kenyan president William Ruto and his cabinet, according to a graphic circulating online. But the news card is fake.

A Facebook user has posted what appears to be a graphic from the Nation, a major Kenyan news site, quoting lawyer Miguna Miguna.

According to the graphic, the fiery lawyer reportedly said he just wanted to be "honest" with Kenyan president William Ruto, who he said has "shunned professionals in his cabinet".

This has, according to the quote, led to Ruto's appointees making gaffes that are "embarrassing to say the least" and have made his administration look "shambolic to Kenya's foreign partners".

The post first repeats the quote verbatim, then lists the supposed "gaffes". These include diplomatic and economic relations with Germany, Canada, Zambia, South Sudan and the disputed region of Western Sahara.

This quote has also been published here and here.

Ruto gazetted 22 cabinet secretaries on 26 October 2022 after they were approved by parliament. But did the Nation really quote Miguna saying Ruto had "shunned professionals" when he made these appointments?

Read the original story, with links and other resources.
Africa Check is a non-partisan organisation which promotes accuracy in public debate and in the media. Twitter @AfricaCheck and www.africacheck.org

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