UDA Reports Joho, Junet To NCIC Over Fake Ruto Video

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has written to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) regarding doctored video footage shared by Mombasa Governor, Hassan Joho and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed of Deputy President William Ruto.

In the letter seen by Viral Tea dated Tuesday, August 2 and signed by UDA Secretary General, Veronica Maina, the party noted that the video, which made Kenyans On Twitter (KOT) reprimand the two politicians, was intended to cause, elicit and spread hate, incitement to violence, ethnic discrimination and disharmony.

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

Deputy President William Ruto speaking during a past rally. /FILE

"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 to 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.

It implored the commission to act immediately and take action with a view to take down the unlawful videos as well as suspend the respective accounts propagating hate speech.

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 9 general 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.