A Financial Times correspondent has called out Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) chairperson Caleb Kositany for posting fake news, which he claimed was published by the United-Kingdom-based news organisation.
On November 30, Kositany posted a photo of a cover page attributed to Financial Times with the headline: US Federal Reserve opens investigation on Kenya's 2014 $2.75 Billion (Ksh421 billion) Euro Bond.
The article claimed that $117 million (Ksh17 billion) raised from the Euro Bond was transferred to an account linked to Magana Kenyatta, the step-brother of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The article was claimed to be written by Demetri Sevastopulo, who has since flagged it as fake, alarming and misleading.
Sevastopulo, a correspondent who covers the United States and China and has over 13 years of experience, took to social media to question why a high-ranking official would spread false news.
"This is a complete fake. I did not write any story about Kenya. Mr Kositany, I hope you are more careful about how you run your airports and you should be ashamed for spreading such fake news," the reporter chided Kositany.
He further claimed that he had only met the Kenyatta family at a young age, and discussions did not centre around the Euro Bond.
"When I was 2 years old I did “meet” Jomo Kenyatta on a beach in Mombasa, but I am pretty sure we did not talk about the Federal Reserve," he added.
A spot-check by Kenyans.co.ke shows that the FT correspondent wrote one article on November 28, 2023, titled "Senior CIA official posted a pro-Palestine image on her Facebook page."
Concerns have been raised in the past over Kenya's ability to settle its external debt, including Eurobond, which is set to mature in June 2024.
President William Ruto has, however, been adamant that his administration will not default on external loans, explaining that the country will lay the groundwork for financing the loans.
During his State of the Nation Address in Parliament, Ruto confirmed that the country would pay the first batch of Eurobond loans worth Ksh500 billion in December.
However, his administration has constantly blamed Uhuru's regime for collapsing the economy, allegations the former President dismissed.
"I am no longer scared. We have been threatened and told a lot of things. Each time someone fails in their mandate, they blame the previous government. I am used to the blame and life continues," Uhuru stated on Sunday, November 19, while speaking at a church service in Mwingi, Kitui County.
