Fatuma Gedi A video purportedly belonging to Wajir Women Rep Fatuma Gedi has been trending on social media. Despite its disgusting content, our readers have felt pressured to verify and confirm the truth behind the video.
However, it is worth noting that the person in the video is a different individual, and it was first leaked online in 2016.
The video's appearance on social media has caused significant consternation, particularly among Gedi's supporters, who believe that the video is part of a political smear campaign against her.
The politician herself has vehemently denied any involvement in the video, insisting that it is a malicious attempt to tarnish her reputation.
It is disheartening to see fake news making headlines in Kenya, especially when the audience never verifies information before believing it.
As research conducted by the BBC shows, emotions play a crucial role in the spread of fake news. Fake news during elections This phenomenon is particularly evident during periods of heightened emotions such as elections.
In such times, people tend to seek out information that confirms their pre-existing beliefs and are more likely to share unverified information that supports their preferred narrative.
Fake news has become a significant problem in Kenya, and social media has emerged as a key battleground for the spread of false information.
According to a study by the Digital Rights Foundation, more than 90% of Kenyan internet users get their news from social media platforms, with Facebook being the most popular platform for sharing news.
This is particularly worrying because Facebook's algorithms tend to prioritize content that is likely to generate engagement, regardless of its veracity.
Real and fake stories coexist online, with recent studies revealing that the largest social media platform for consuming and sharing fake news in Kenya is Facebook. Fact Check In light of this, the editor of this site will soon start a "Fact Check" category to verify various trending issues as we strive to fight the scourge of fake news.
The category will be dedicated to debunking fake news stories and providing readers with accurate and verified information.
Although the mainstream media has often blamed bloggers for spreading fake news, Kenyans are beginning to realize that the media is the biggest peddler of fake news, as evidenced by the Migori Jakadala rumor and the Imenti house saga, which we confirmed as fake scandals.
The media's rush to report on unverified stories has contributed to the spread of fake news and eroded public trust.
Finally, our further investigations confirmed that the sound in the alleged Fatuma Gedi video is a voiceover from a YouTube clip shared in late March 2018.
While this information does not necessarily absolve the politician of any wrongdoing, it highlights the importance of verifying information before sharing it online.
As responsible citizens, we must all do our part in stopping the spread of fake news and promoting accurate and truthful information.
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