A statement that has been making rounds on social media indicating that Weston, a hotel associated to Deputy President William Ruto, is offering free food, is false.
The statement indicated that Lang'ata residents would benefit from a free food offer courtesy of the hotel.
"This is to inform all Lang'ata residents that in line with our chairman's desire of equality for all; Weston Hotel, which he owns, will effective from midnight today, 1st October 2020, be offering free accommodation and meals," reads the statement.
In the report, Lang'ata residents interested in the offer to were asked to contact area MP Nixon Korir to facilitate booking of slots.
"All residents are encouraged to participate," reads an excerpt from the notice.
Kenyans.co.ke contacted Charleen Ruto, a director at the hotel in charge of public relations and branding, indicated that the statement was false.
"The statement is not true," she stated.
Brian Muuo, a digital strategist, stated that it was easy for scammers to make fake statements of companies, once they mastered their letterheads.
"Once rivals of a particular business or person makes the fake statement, they post on social media accounts with many followers, a negative statement can ruin a person's or businesses' reputation," he stated.
The government is moving to curb the spread of fake news especially on social media platforms by stipulating stiff penalties for anyone found guilty of the crime.
President Uhuru Kenyatta enacted the Computer and Cybercrimes Bill, 2017 providing a two-year jail term or Ksh5 million fine for spreading fake news in early 2020.
“A person who intentionally publishes false, misleading or fictitious data or misinforms with the intent that the data shall be considered or acted upon as authentic, with or without any financial gain, commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding five million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both,” reads clause 12 of the new law.
