IN SHORT: The front page of a Kiswahili-language newspaper circulating on social media, with a headline story that appears to stoke tribal tensions, is falsified. It's been digitally manipulated and has been dismissed by the paper.
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The Kalenjin are an ethnic grouping of eight culturally and linguistically related groups who live in the
The intro of the lead story on the front page, dated
This roughly translates from Kiswahili as: "One community in the country has been found to be over-represented in government, highlighting the unequal representation of ethnic groups in public service, a new report has noted."
The front page shows a picture of Joseph Siror, who was recently appointed as the chief executive of
Following
Ruto is Kalenjin and appointing his kin to government roles has been seen as rewarding loyalty rather than competence. Kenya is notorious for the role of tribalism in politics, ever since its colonisation by the British.
The front page has also been shared here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
But is this really the front page of the Taifa Leo newspaper? We checked.
Front page fake
Taifa Leo posts its daily front page on its official Facebook and Twitter accounts.
The headline reads "Ruto Arusha Ahadi Zaidi", or "Ruto Makes More Promises".
On 4 May, Taifa Leo posted the altered front page on Facebook andTwitter, stamped "FEKI", or "fake".
The publication said: "TAHADHARI: Shabiki tunakufahamisha kwamba kichwa FEKI kinachoangazia suala la ukabila si kazi yetu. PUUZA."
This translates as: "CAUTION: Fans, we inform you that the FAKE title that focuses on the issue of ethnicity is not our work. IGNORE IT."
The front page circulating on social media has been doctored.
Copyright Africa Check. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com)., source