Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria on Thursday, May 28, sensationally claimed that the national government was financing a team of I.T and digital media experts to execute co-ordinated attacks on Deputy President William Ruto and his allies.
In a conversation with Kenyans.co.ke, he alleged that the team was operating from two locations in Nairobi and reporting to high-ranking officials in the government.
Kuria spoke after a manipulated The Star front-page image was widely circulated with the headline 'The Double Agent', claiming Kuria was a mole for President Uhuru Kenyatta in the DP's Tanga Tanga camp.
It was the second fake front-page to have been widely shared in as many days, with a fake Standard headline on Wednesday, May 27 claiming that Rachel Ruto had fled her Karen home where she lives with her husband, Deputy President William Ruto.
It pointed to a surge in the use of Cambridge Analytica-style tactics against the Deputy President, tactics infamously used against Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga during the 2017 electioneering period.
Kuria alleged that the team was led by prominent political blogger Polycarp Hinga, who describes himself as an Information Activist for the Jubilee Party.
Hinga was yet to respond to queries made by Kenyans.co.ke on Kuria's allegations about the secret team by the time of publication.
The lawmaker further claimed that the operation had two bases in Nairobi, one in the upmarket Runda estate and another located along Lenana Road.
He alleged that members of the team received instructions from powerful government officials who also ensured the covert program was financed, describing it as a government project.
"The people know the truth. They don't need to be told. There is a paid cabal. They are paid by the government and they are operating from somewhere along Lenana Road, and others from Runda. It is a government project. They have their targets; when it's not me it's Kimani Ichung'wah or Ndindi Nyoro.
"Those people are reporting to people we know, and they are financed by people we know. They run under one guy called Polycarp Hinga, he is the author of all those things," he claimed.
Kuria observed the dangers of misinformation, noting that it could erode public trust in the media as many people were falling for the fake front-pages shared in Whatsapp groups, Facebook and Twitter.
He noted that while action was ideally supposed to be taken against purveyors of such false information, nothing would happen as the authorities meant to enforce the relevant laws were behind the operation.
"Yes, action should be taken but by who? Those who are supposed to take action are the ones financing it. The team, their work is to create cartoons and fake news.
"Ultimately it will affect the freedom of the press and the public trust in the media," he maintained.
