Fabricated statement falsely claims US congratulated Odinga for Kenyan election win

A Facebook post published on August 14, 2022, shared an image of what appears to be a screenshot of a statement purportedly issued on social media by the US embassy about the Kenyan elections.

“The United States of America congratulates the people of Kenya for holding peaceful elections,” it reads. “President Joe Biden also congratulates Hon Raila Odinga for his election as Kenya's fifth president (sic).”

Image

Screenshot of false Facebook post, taken on August 15, 2022

Backed by the ruling party, veteran politician Odinga was one of four contenders bidding to become Kenya’s fifth president.

His main rival Ruto Ruto is a shadowy rags-to-riches businessman

The purported screenshot appeared in multiple posts here, here and here.

However, the statement was fabricated.

US embassy denial

The US embassy in Kenya took to Twitter and Facebook on August 14, 2022, to warn that the document circulating on social media was fake.

The caption embassy reads: “#StopReflectVerify” - a favoured hashtag of verification specialists to encourage social media users to double-check content before sharing.

"The referenced 'statement' was not issued by the United States Embassy', "embassy spokesman Andrew Veveiros also confirmed to AFP Fact Check on August 16, 2022.

Posts that shared the false statement began circulating the document three days before Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) released the long-awaited results on the evening of August 15, 2022.

Ruto was declared president-elect by the IEBC after securing a majority 50.49% of the vote while Odinga received 48.85%.

Violent protests

Ruto's opponents cried foul after the announcement of the outcome, which also triggered a split in the body responsible for overseeing the vote.

Violent protests erupted in Odinga's stronghold of Kisumu and parts of Nairobi, with angry demonstrators alleging vote-rigging as police fired tear gas to disperse them.

The aftermath of the poll is being keenly watched as a test of democratic maturity in the East African powerhouse where previous elections have been marred by claims of rigging and bloodshed.

The nation of about 50 million people could be in for a long period of political uncertainty if there is a court challenge by Odinga, who says he was cheated of victory in presidential elections held in 2007, 2013 and 2017.

Kenya is already struggling with soaring prices, a crippling drought, endemic corruption and growing disenchantment with the political elite.

Nairobi-based journalist Julian Kamau contributed to this fact-check.