A recent TikTok post has been found to be PARTLY FALSE, claiming to show protesters in Kenya demanding the release of Ugandan politician Kiiza Besigye. The video features a voice speaking in Luganda, stating that Kenyans are demanding that the government of President Ruto puts pressure on the Ugandan government to release Besigye. However, a keyword search and reverse image search revealed that the footage was actually linked to protests over the rising cost of living in Kenya.
The protests in Kenya over Besigye's detention did occur on 3 September 2026, but the footage in the TikTok post does not match. During the actual protests, demonstrators were seen waving both Kenyan and Ugandan flags, and carrying targeted banners with images of Besigye and the Ugandan flag. They marched to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Harambee Avenue. In contrast, the claim video was filmed in Nairobi's Central Business District along Kimathi Street.
PesaCheck, East Africa's first public finance fact-checking initiative, conducted the investigation. The fact-checking organisation is partnered with Facebook and other social media platforms to sort fact from fiction. PesaCheck's goal is to help the public separate fact from fiction in public pronouncements about the numbers that shape our world.
The video under analysis was found to have been used in a June 2025 post, showing that it was linked to protests over the rising cost of living in Kenya. The footage features large crowds, particularly young people and Gen Z protesters, which resembles the protests over the rising cost of living.
Kiiza Besigye, a Ugandan politician, has been facing treason charges in Uganda since his arrest in Kenya in November 2024. He has remained on remand since his arrest, with applications for bail being denied. The ongoing court hearings in Uganda have drawn attention to his detention.
PesaCheck's fact-check was written by fact-checker Flavia Nassaka and edited by senior copy editor Mary Mutisya 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, with support from Deutsche Welle Akademie.
In conclusion, the TikTok post claiming to show Kenyans protesting for the release of Kiiza Besigye is PARTLY FALSE. The video actually shows protests over the rising cost of living in Kenya. PesaCheck urges the public to be cautious when sharing information on social media to avoid spreading misinformation.
Key points
- The video under analysis does not show protests demanding the release of Kiiza Besigye, but rather protests over the rising cost of living in Kenya.
- The actual protests over Besigye's detention involved demonstrators waving Kenyan and Ugandan flags and carrying targeted banners.
- PesaCheck is East Africa's first public finance fact-checking initiative, partnered with Facebook and other social media platforms to sort fact from fiction.
