Kenya: Viral Graphic Quoting Opposition Leader Raila Odinga Saying 'I Love Demons' Is Fake - Original Quote Edited

19 May 2023
Africa Check (Johannesburg)
By Makinia Juma Sylvia

Fake media graphics are increasingly circulating on Kenyan social media platforms. A graphic quoting opposition leader Raila Odinga saying he loves demons is one example.

A graphic circulating on Facebook in May 2023 attributes a quote to Raila Odinga, the leader of the Kenyan opposition.

The graphic includes a photo of Odinga and the logo of K24 TV, a local broadcaster.

The quote in the graphic reads: "I was told not to go to Shakahola, the place has demons, and I said that's the reason why I must go to see those demons. I love demons."

In April 2023, Kenya was gripped by the horrific discovery of mass graves linked to a Christian church in the Shakahola forest in the coastal county of Kilifi.

Followers of the Good News International Church were reportedly encouraged by their leader Paul Mackenzie to starve to death in order to "meet Jesus". He is also said to have claimed that the world would end on 15 April.

As of 16 May, it had been reported that 211 bodies had been exhumed from sites in the forest.

Odinga visited the site on 5 May but was denied entry by the police. He was also criticised by Kenyan president William Ruto, who said Odinga had "no business" visiting Shakahola.

Addressing Kilifi residents on 6 May, Odinga said: "Niliambiwa nisiende Shakahola. Shakahola kuna shetani. Nikasema ndio sababu natakikana mimi niende, nionane na huyo shetani."

This translates to: "I was told not to go to Shakahola, the place has demons, and I said that's the reason why I must go to see those demons. I didn't know you needed a pass to enter the site."

This is the origin of the quote circulating on social media. However, Odinga did not say that he loved demons.

The graphic was published here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. But was this quote published by K24 TV? We checked.

Graphic fake, quote altered

We searched for the quote on K24 TV's official Facebook and Twitter pages and found a graphic with the same photo of Odinga and the same date but a different font to the one circulating online.

The last sentence on the original graphic - "I didn't know you needed a pass to enter the site" - was changed to "I love demons".

Africa Check contacted K24 TV to find out if the graphic came from them. The station dismissed it as fake: "Please disregard that digital card. What we shared on our platform is different."

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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