DPP Haji Responds To Ruto Outcry Over Joho, Junet Fake Video

Haji directed Mutyambai to undertake comprehensive investigations into the video clips

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Aug 4, 2022 - 10:41
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DPP Haji Responds To Ruto Outcry Over Joho, Junet Fake Video
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Noordin Haji. /WHO OWNS KENYA

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Noordin Haji, has taken action over doctored video footage shared by Mombasa Governor, Hassan Joho and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed of Ruto which sparked an uproar on Twitter.

In a statement dated Wednesday, August 3, the DPP instructed Inspector General of Police, Hillary Mutyambai to open investigations into the edited video clip which not only made Kenyans On Twitter (KOT) reprimand the two politicians but also prompted a heated retaliation by Deputy President William Ruto and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Haji directed Mutyambai to undertake comprehensive investigations into the video clips to ascertain whether they were altered before announcing the next course of action. He asked the police boss to submit the investigation file to his office within seven days.

DPP Noordin Haji and Inspector General of Police, Hilary Mutyambai. /CAPITAL GROUP

In addition, Haji also called upon multiple agencies to open investigations into an audio clip which claimed there was a plot to rig the August 9 elections.

"We have also taken appropriate action and directed the appropriate authorities, especially the National Police Service, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and the National Cohesion and Integrated Commission (NCIC) to do what ought to be done," he said.

Haji's sentiments came a day after UDA wrote to NCIC urging action to be taken against the duo, who are vouching for the Azimio la Umoja coalition.

UDA added that the video was against the express provisions of Section 13 of the National Cohesion and Integration Act, 2008.

"This video is a choreographed version intended to cause, elicit and spread hate, incitement to violence, ethnic discrimination and disharmony. This video has also been intentionally edited with a deliberate aim and objective to cause ethnic hatred, fear and intolerance during this peak political season.

"Their Twitter accounts through which they have published the edited video have a massive following on the platform and the said videos have been widely shared. The deceptive and edited videos have caused and will continue to cause hate, spread paranoia and incite violence against ethnic communities in the country," the letter read in part.

UDA moved to formally lodge a complaint in compliance and in accordance with Sections 43 and 44 of the referenced Act of Parliament.

DP Ruto also spoke about the video on Thursday, August 4 while dragging his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta as well as police commissioners and a section of journalists for allegedly inciting Kenyans to violence.

"We call on every Kenyan and the international community to look at their issues in their proper perspective. We want to thank Twitter for pulling down the inciting video posted by Joho on matters of violence," he noted.

The clip was doctored to make it look as though the Kenya Kwanza presidential candidate was alleged to be uttering inciteful and divisive remarks when he took his campaigns to Uasin Gishu County. It was divided into several parts and left out the rest of the address to convince netizens that Ruto was trying to incite residents of the county ahead of the August elections.

Both personalities posted that video on their verified accounts on Tuesday, August 2, slamming the Deputy President for allegedly using those remarks to turn Uasin Gishu residents against non-indigenous Kenyans, urging them to drive them out if they do not back his presidential bid in the elections.

Deputy President William Ruto speaking on August 4, 2022, at his Karen office, Nairobi. /NATION.YOUTUBE

The posts drew the anger of KOT whose members were quick to spot the irregularities in the clips. 

Viral Tea established that the clips were indeed doctored, with the original clip showing Ruto urging the Uasin Gishu residents not to let politics separate their need to unite as Kenyans ahead of the election period. 

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