Video of Raila Odinga was filmed at a nightclub in Kenya, not at welcome rally in Nigeria
- This article is more than one year old.
- Published on February 7, 2023 at 08:03
- 2 min read
- By Mary KULUNDU, AFP Kenya
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On February 2, 2023, this tweet shared a TikTok video of Odinga flanked by his security guards entering an establishment decorated with flags amid cheers from revellers who were recording his arrival on their phones.
“The People’s President. Raila Odinga in Nigeria,” the tweet reads.
The video, which has been viewed more than 120,000 times, was shared on a Twitter account supportive of Odinga.
The same claim was shared on Facebook (here, here and here).
Odinga, who lost the 2022 presidential race to William Ruto, has insisted the ballot was rigged.
The five-time presidential candidate and his political party produced documents allegedly leaked by a whistleblower claiming to show how the votes were manipulated.
Odinga travelled to Nigeria’s capital Abuja on January 31, 2023, to attend a leadership conference.
In a keynote speech, Odinga warned Nigerians to be vigilant while using technology in elections as it can be “compromised and results altered”.
His remarks came as Nigeria prepares for a presidential election on February 25, 2023.
But while Odinga had indeed visited Nigeria, the clip shared on Twitter was not taken during this trip.
Old unrelated video
The TikTok video shared online featured the user handle @luvemimahlon in the left-hand corner.
After locating the account on TikTok, AFP Fact Check found that the user had uploaded the footage on January 9, 2023 -- weeks before Odinga travelled to Nigeria.
“Raila in the House,” the caption reads.
User comments below the clip suggested it had been filmed at a popular Nairobi nightclub, Orchid Lounge.
A search for Orchid Lounge on Google Maps and Instagram revealed several images matching the premises seen in the misleading video.
Identical features include the red-carpeted staircase, the dolphin logo of Singleton whiskey, chandeliers and the interior décor.
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