Ignore fake front page saying the US rejected ex-deputy president's claims of Kenyan government's ties to terror groups
An image of a front page, mimicking the design of Kenya's Standard newspaper, claims the United States has rejected Rigathi Gachagua's allegation that the Kenyan government has links to terrorism networks. However, the front page is fabricated.
The United States has rejected former Kenyan deputy president Rigathi Gachagua's claims that the Kenyan government has links to terrorism networks. That's according to an image of what appears to be the front page of Kenya's Standard newspaper.
The image resembles the 13 August 2025 front page of the newspaper and carries the headline: "Washington Rejects Gachagua's Baseless Terror Allegations." It features photos of Gachagua and US president Donald Trump.
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Its summary claims that the US "firmly dismissed" the allegations, describing it as a "major political blow" to Gachagua.
"Speaking on the matter, Donald Trump rubbished Gachagua's statements as 'cheap propaganda', accusing him of peddling reckless narratives for political gain. The sharp rebuttal undermines Gachagua's ongoing campaign in the US, exposing the allegations a deliberate attempt to tarnish President Ruto's administration on the global stage," it reads.
Gachagua travelled to the US on 9 July, where he said he would engage with Kenyans in the diaspora and the international community about the state of the nation.
In one of his engagements in the US, Gachagua claimed that president William Ruto had links to Sudan's paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces. The power struggle between the group and the Sudanese Armed Forces began in 2023.
He also claimed that Ruto was working with al-Shabaab, a militant group in Somalia, adding that he even met three of its leaders to discuss "business". The allegations have sparked fury among government officials, who have demanded that he record a statement with the police to support his claims.
The front page has been posted here and here. (Note: See more instances listed at the end of this report.)
But is it authentic? We checked.
Fake front page
Africa Check discovered that the front page originated from the Facebook page Daily Standard - the source of many digitally altered front pages mimicking the design of the Standard newspaper. This suggests that the front page in question may also be fake.
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The Standard newspaper usually posts digital versions of its front pages on its verified social media accounts, including Facebook and X, as well as on its e-paper platform. We searched the accounts and the platform and found the original front page from 13 August 2025.
The genuine front page features the headline: "Devolved corruption." It reports on how county officials have allegedly looted billions from county governments since their establishment after the general elections in March 2013.
The circulating front page has been digitally altered.
The fake front page also appears here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
