NAIROBI, Kenya — A statement rapidly circulating on social media, purporting to show Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga condemning police killings and warning that the situation is “spiralling out of control,” has been confirmed as entirely FAKE.
The fabricated statement claimed that the ODM leader had condemned the shooting of an unarmed mask hawker during the June 17 protests in Nairobi, asserting that the police had “gone rogue.”
The incident referenced within the fake statement concerned Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, the hawker who was reportedly shot in the head by a uniformed police officer in broad daylight along Moi Avenue during protests demanding justice for Albert Ojwang.
Dated Tuesday, June 17, 2025, the fake document indicated that Raila Odinga was “appalled by the horrifying and inexcusable shooting” of the mask vendor.
The fake statement further contained direct quotes attributed to Odinga, including: “Kenyans have a constitutional right to protest peacefully, and I call upon the President to urgently address this escalating situation before it spirals out of control. The continued use of violence by law enforcement against unarmed citizens is unacceptable and must be met with immediate accountability.”
Another passage within the discredited statement read: “I strongly condemn the shooting of an unarmed hawker selling masks in Nairobi’s Central Business District. The viral video circulating on social media is horrifying to watch. Our police officers have completely gone rogue. There was no imminent threat posed to the officer, yet he chose to use excessive and lethal force against an innocent civilian.”
However, Vivid Voice News Factchecker has confirmed the inauthenticity of the statement after reaching out to ODM Director of Communication Philip Etale.
“The statement is fake; it did not originate from our office,” Etale unequivocally stated.
In a separate post on X (formerly Twitter), Etale provided clear guidelines for verifying official communications: “If it is not posted by me, Dennis Onyango or posted on Raila Odinga and The ODM party handles, then it is FAKE. A press release/statement originates from the source to newsrooms and is posted on relevant handles.”
