Fake news imitating foreign media reports hit Kenya elections

Fake news reports are circulating in Kenya showing videos claiming to be from the CNN and BBC reporting that incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta is leading in polls.

The videos, widely distributed on social media, are suspected to have originated from Kenyan WhatsApp groups.

The BBC version imitated the Focus on Africa programme while the CNN version had the report with a CNN logo and wrong fonts.

CNN’s public relations outfit tweeted on Thursday dismissing the broadcast as fake.

“This report on Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is fake. CNN did not produce or broadcast this story,” it said.

The BBC also said in a report that it was targeted by fake news on Kenya elections.

Two pinion polls released last week have placed both Kenyatta and Odinga in a slight lead with both candidates having an equal chance of winning.

Polling firm, Infotrak Harris, says Odinga scored a point lead over Kenyatta with 47 per cent and 43 per cent respectively after sampling 2,000 Kenyan registered voters.

The results of the July 16 to 22 poll was released two hours after that of the Ipsos polling firm which sampled 2,209 people and placed Kenyatta in the lead with 47 per cent and Odinga behind with 43 per cent. Kenyans go to the polls on August 8 to vote for a new president. Eight candidates are contesting in the tensed election that has two favourites – President Uhuru Kenyatta of the Jubilee Party and Raila Odinga of the National Super Alliance (NASA).