Kenya: No, Kenya's Nation Newspaper Didn't Quote Opposition Leader Kalonzo Musyoka As Breaking Ranks With Azimio Coalition Leader Raila Odinga

19 May 2023
Africa Check (Johannesburg)
By Grace Gichuhi

Musyoka has backed Odinga's bid for the presidency in Kenya's last three elections. But a graphic suggesting he is now eyeing the top job for himself in 2027 is fake.

A graphic with the logo of Kenyan news site Nation, attributing a quote to the leader of the Wiper Democratic Movement, Kalonzo Musyoka, has been making the rounds on Twitter since 10 May 2023.

The quote reads, confusingly: "Other people thinks that I will give them leadership of Azimio. Let me make it clear that you never helped me to reach my destiny,why should I support you to achieve your goal? If anything you want me to support you is for you to back me 2027 so that I can back you 2032."

Above the quote is a photo of Musyoka, with Azimio coalition leader Raila Odinga in the background.

Musyoka was Odinga's running mate in the 2013 and 2017 general elections. They lost both elections.

Musyoka's Wiper is one of the parties that signed an agreement with Odinga ahead of the August 2022 elections, resulting in the Azimio la Umoja coalition. Odinga lost that election too.

While there has been speculation that Musyoka is planning to run for president in the 2027 general election, he has not yet declared his candidacy.

This graphic was also posted on Facebook.

But did the Nation really quote Musyoka saying he was breaking ranks with Odinga? We checked.

Signs the graphic is fake

The text on the graphic is sloppily written and contains many grammatical errors. This is not typical of the Nation's graphics.

Africa Check looked for the graphic on Nation's official Facebook page and Twitter account, but didn't find it.

The media house has since posted that the graphic is fake.

"FAKE NEWS ALERT! Please be advised that this card doing rounds on social media is fake #FakeNewsAlert," Nation said on 11 May 2023.

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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