A recent image circulating on social media platforms shows journalist Lulu Hassan wearing a cap branded with the logo of Kenya's United Democratic Alliance (UDA). The photo, which appears to have been taken during a press engagement, has sparked claims that Hassan is running for the Mvita parliamentary seat. However, a thorough investigation by PesaCheck has revealed that the image is not authentic.
PesaCheck's investigation began with a reverse image search, which led to a YouTube video published by Captain Nyota TV. The video features Hassan speaking to the press and interacting with a crowd, but in the footage, she is not wearing the UDA cap. The video, which is 10 minutes long, provides a clear view of Hassan's attire during the event, and at no point is she seen wearing the cap.
Further evidence supporting the fact that the image is altered comes from images shared from the event, which show Hassan without the UDA cap. PesaCheck also reached out to Hassan directly, and she confirmed that she is not a member of any political party and has not declared any intention to run for elective office.
The altered image has been shared on various social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter). It is part of a larger trend of misinformation that PesaCheck and other fact-checking organizations are working to combat. By verifying the authenticity of images and information, PesaCheck aims to provide the public with accurate information.
PesaCheck is East Africa's first public finance fact-checking initiative, co-founded by Catherine Gicheru and Justin Arenstein. The organization is incubated by Code for Africa, a civic technology and data journalism accelerator. PesaCheck's work is focused on verifying information related to public finances and government delivery of Sustainable Development Goals.
The fact-check was written by PesaCheck fact-checker Harriet Ogayo and edited by senior copy editor Mary Mutisya. The article was approved for publication by PesaCheck managing editor Doreen Wainainah. This fact-check is part of PesaCheck's ongoing series examining content marked as potential misinformation on Facebook and other social media platforms.
Key to PesaCheck's mission is its partnership with social media platforms to help sort fact from fiction. The organization provides the public with deeper insight and context into posts they see in their social media feeds. Users can report suspected fake or false information on Facebook using a provided reporting tool.
Key points
- The image of Lulu Hassan wearing a UDA-branded cap has been deemed altered by PesaCheck.
- Hassan has denied being a member of any political party or having plans to run for elective office.
- PesaCheck's investigation involved a reverse image search and direct communication with Hassan.
