Kenya: Fake Graphic Misleads On Reasons for Removal of Kenyan MP From Plum Parliamentary Committee

31 March 2025
Africa Check (Johannesburg)
By Grace Gichuhi

Fake graphic misleads on reasons for removal of Kenyan MP from plum parliamentary committee

IN SHORT: A viral graphic claims that Kenyan lawmaker Vincent Musyoka was ousted as chair of a prominent committee because of corruption and political disloyalty. But his exit was to facilitate a political deal and the graphic is also a fabrication.

A graphic circulating on Facebook claims to have the reasons why the member of parliament for Kenya's Mwala constituency, Vincent Musyoka, was removed as chair of the national assembly's powerful energy committee.

The graphic claims that this was due to allegations of corruption, mismanagement and disloyalty to Kenyan president William Ruto.

Mwala is one of eight constituencies in Machakos county, about 100 kilometres from Nairobi, Kenya's capital.

Musyoka was elected chair of the energy committee in 2022. The committee oversees the energy sector and its legislation. Its policy reviews are crucial to efficient energy production, distribution, and regulation.

The graphic details more allegations against him, including misuse of electrification funds, corruption, being "self-centred", skipping committee meetings and lukewarm support for the ruling party, despite being its national organising secretary.

The last allegation stems from the fact that Musyoka was among the members of parliament who voted to impeach former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua on 8 October 2024. Musyoka also voted in favour of the unpopular 2024 Finance Bill, which Ruto later withdrew.

The viral graphic, which bears the logo and branding of Kenyan newspaper the Star, has also been posted here and here.

But is the claim accurate? And did the Star publish this graphic?

Musyoka's removal not suspicious, claims baseless

Musyoka was removed as chair of the energy committee on 5 March 2025 in a parliamentary committee shake-up.

But this was part of a wider reshuffle to accommodate members of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in key parliamentary committees, rather than a consequence of alleged corruption or disloyalty.

The ODM has entered into a political pact with president William Ruto.

We reviewed credible news sources and found no reports confirming allegations of fund misallocation or an official corruption investigation, as claimed in the graphic.

And on 6 March, the Star dismissed the image. "If it is not on our official pages, it is FAKE! Get the real copy on all our verified platforms," the publication wrote on its official Facebook page.

This fake graphic was also published here, here, here and here.

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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