A social media post circulating in September 2026 claimed that an image of Kenya's Deputy President Kithure Kindiki escaping chaos at his Embu meeting was authentic. The post included a photo of Kindiki navigating a thicket with three other men, using a stick to make his way down a bushy path. However, a thorough investigation by PesaCheck revealed that the image was not recent and did not depict the events at the Embu meeting.
According to PesaCheck, the photo of Kindiki was taken on 7 May 2024, when he was assessing railway infrastructure in Kijabe. This finding was confirmed through a Google reverse image search, which showed that the photo had been published online on that date. The image has been shared out of context, giving the impression that it was taken during the Embu meeting on 12 September 2026.
The Embu meeting, which was a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) grassroots mobilisation and empowerment event, was marred by chaos when hundreds of youths tried to force their way into the venue. Police deployed tear gas, leading to clashes with the crowd. One person was confirmed dead, at least six vehicles were burned, and several others were vandalised. However, the image of Kindiki escaping chaos does not relate to this event.
In contrast, another image shared alongside Kindiki's photo showed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua trying to flee through a fence after chaos rocked a church service at Witima ACK Church in Othaya on 25 January 2026. This image has been correctly contextualised and is not related to the Embu meeting.
PesaCheck is a fact-checking initiative that aims to help the public separate fact from fiction in public pronouncements about numbers that shape the world. The organisation, which is East Africa's first public finance fact-checking initiative, seeks to provide deeper insight and context to posts seen in social media feeds.
The fact-check was written by PesaCheck fact-checker Naomi Wanjiku and edited by PesaCheck senior copy editor Cédrick Irakoze and chief copy editor Stephen Ndegwa. The article was approved for publication by PesaCheck managing editor Doreen Wainainah. PesaCheck is an initiative of Code for Africa, through its innovateAFRICA fund, with support from Deutsche Welle Akademie.
Key findings from the investigation include the image of Kindiki being old and taken during a different event, and the correct contextualisation of the image of Gachagua. PesaCheck's investigation highlights the importance of verifying information before sharing it on social media to avoid spreading misinformation.
Key points
- The image of Kenya's Deputy President Kithure Kindiki is from 7 May 2024, not September 2026 as claimed.
- The photo was taken during an assessment of railway infrastructure in Kijabe, not during the Embu meeting.
- PesaCheck's investigation aims to help the public separate fact from fiction in public pronouncements.
