Kenyans have been warned against believing misinformation being spread online that activist Boniface Mwangi has once again been abducted and is currently being transported to Tanzania.
In a statement, LSK President Faith Odhiambo flagged a doctored news quote from a local media house and called on Kenyans to be on the lookout for fake news.
"Our attention has been drawn to a series of false statements and deepfakes allegedly concerning the abduction of Boniface Mwangi," she stated.
"We urge members of the public to disregard this fake online campaign and disregard all attempts at misdirection and misinformation."
Also urging Kenyans to disregard these reports was Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director Irungu Houghton, who flagged another alleged quote, purporting to originate from another popular media house.
In his statement, Houghton urged Kenyans to disregard similar quotes claiming that the activist has been rearrested.
He claimed that the series of fake posts was a result of the calls for justice of software developer Rose Njeri and of activists Boniface Mwangi and Agatha Atuhaire, who were reportedly tortured in Tanzania.
"Disinformation Alert. KOX (Kenyans on X), be advised that the haters have been busy overnight. Our call for #FreeRoseNjeri and #JusticeForBonifaceAgather has touched a nerve," he stated while flagging the post as fake," he stated.
Over the past few weeks, activists in Kenya have been leading a campaign against the detention and torture of Mwangi and Uganda's Atuhaire in Tanzania, where they had travelled in support of the opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who appeared in open court on May 19 for treason charges.
Six Kenyan activists and human rights defenders, including former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and former Justice Minister Martha Karua, were detained at the airport and afterwards deported back to Kenya.
Mwangi and Atuhaire, who had managed to gain entry into Tanzania, however, went missing for almost three days after reporting they were being pursued by Tanzanian authorities. They were both recovered on May 21 at the borders of both countries and Tanzania after reportedly being deported by bus.
On Monday, June 2, they detailed the extensive torture they suffered in custody, including sadistic sexual assault during a press briefing.
However, a section of Kenyans who have backed Tanzania's decision from the beginning and are questioning the validity of the activists' ordeal are now being accused of doctoring the new arrest reports to pivot the discussion, as human rights advocates continue to call for justice.
