FAKE: Jimi Wanjigi Did Not Say Central Kenya Prefers Kalonzo Musyoka

A digital card branded  Kenyans.co.ke on which businessman and politician Jimi Wanjigi is quoted supporting Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka for the presidency is fake.

According to the digital card, dated 28th January, 2022, Wanjigi is quoted as stating that Central Kenya leaders have evaluated ODM leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto and concluded that the Wiper boss, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, is the best candidate to keep Kenya united.

The quote, attributed to Jimi Wanjigi, says: “We have sat in Central Kenya and analysed the other two, Raila and Ruto and with Kalonzo on the other side. We have concluded that Kalonzo is the best fit to hold this country together.” 

This comes at a time when Wanjigi has lately been warming to Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka. He has been seen attending some of Wiper Party’s political rallies, though he has not formally announced whether he is supporting Kalonzo for the top seat. 

Wanjigi is member of ODM Party and is preparing to square it out with his party leader, Raila Odinga, for the party’s presidential ticket at the National Delegates Conference on February 25 & 26 at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi.

A fact-check reveals, however, that the digital card is fake. Jimi Wanjigi, a presidential hopeful in the 9th August 2022 elections, on 29th January flagged the post as fake on his Facebook page.

A check on his Twitter page doesn’t reveal any communication from Wanjigi supporting Kalonzo while dismissing Raila and Ruto.

A Google search of the quote does not yield any positive results nor any reporting about a meeting in Central Kenya to that effect. A review of Kenyans,co.ke Twitter page yields no such digital card. An editor at the Kenyans.co.ke website disowned the digital card, describing it as fake news.

On the same day, though, Kenyans.co.ke published digital cards for various personalities including COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli, Ford Kenya Leader Moses Wentagula, Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge, Amani National Congress Leader Musalia Mudavadi, MP Moses Kuria and Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, among others. 

[This story was produced by Business Today in partnership with Code for Africa’s iLAB data journalism programme, with support from Deutsche Welle Akademie ]

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