On Friday, March 5, Deputy President William Ruto's communication team released a statement and images of the DP closed-door meeting with officials of the United States National Security Council (NSC) at White House, Washington DC.
His reported visit to the White House ignited a nationwide debate.
A fact check of the images issued by Ruto's team, in comparison with photos previously shared by White House in past events, ascertained that Ruto visited Eisenhower Executive Office Building, adjacent to the White House West Wing.
The modern-day White House complex includes the Executive Residence, the West Wing, the East Wing, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (the former State Department, which now houses offices for the president's staff and the vice president), and Blair House, a guest residence.
Kenyans.co.ke established that the photo of the DP and his entourage alighting the stairs was indeed taken at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB).
According to the White House official website, the building hosts offices of the White House staff and is located next to the West Wing of White House.
Additionally, it is indicated that the executive office building holds offices for the NSC that met Ruto and his delegation.
"The White House began to move some of its offices across West Executive Avenue in 1939, and in 1949 the building was turned over to the Executive Office of the President and renamed the Executive Office Building.
"The building continues to house various agencies that comprise the Executive Office of the President, such as the White House Office, the Office of the Vice President, the Office of Management and Budget, and the National Security Council," read the statement.
In 2012, a replica of the Oval Office was built at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building as a part of a major, two-year overhaul of the White House West Wing.
In this fact check, we also compared photos of US Vice President Kamala Harris walking at the building which houses her office and the photos shared by DP Ruto's team and ruled out photoshop allegations as fronted on social media.
A statement by the Bureau of African Affairs further confirmed Ruto's meeting with US officials on its Twitter page saying "I welcomed the opportunity to meet with Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto this week to discuss the importance of free, fair, and peaceful elections in August. This is a message for all Kenyans."
The DP, nonetheless, has not shared photos of his Eisenhower Executive Office Building visit on his social media pages unlike the other areas he toured in the US.
