This archive report was first published on 12 October 2019.
Kenyan marathoner Eliud Kipchoge made history in Vienna on October 12, 2019, and a controversial tweet was published shortly after.
According to the tweet, plans were underway with Gulfstream Aero to deliver a jet to Kipchoge before November 29, 2019. However, the tweet was later revealed to be from a fake account.
Speaking to Citizen Digital, businessman Jimi Wanjigi broke his silence on the claims, stating that the post was not from him.
‘It is a fake account, it has nothing to do with me but we are proud of Eliud Kipchoge for what he has done for the human race and for Kenya in particular,’ Wanjigi said.
His lawyer, Willis Otieno, added that Wanjigi has no social media accounts, meaning both Twitter pages (@Jimmywanjigi1 and @JimiWanjigi) are fake.
Wanjigi has previously been a victim of fake news on social media, with a fact-checking organization sounding the alarm over a fake Facebook post linking him to the Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal in March 2019.
He also sued the Nation Media Group over the publication of a fake obituary on February 7, 2018, and was awarded Ksh. 8 million by the High Court.
