KBC – Presidential results: Public warned against false reports

Human rights bodies have raised the alarm over the continued release of false and misleading information by both Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja Coalition candidates and their supporters on the electoral process and results to the public.

Executive Director Amnesty International-Kenya, Irungu Houghton, Executive Director, KICTANET Grace Githaiga, Executive Director SDGs Kenya Forum Florence Syevuo and Program Manager at Fumbua Campaign Wanjiru Nguhi, in a joint communique, expressed their concern at the rising levels of results distortion, misinformation and deliberate attempts to deceive people through social media platforms.

The bodies reminded Kenyans that only the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has the mandate to announce the results.

The human rights watchdogs have advised the netizens and the public to treat all electoral information as either opinions or provisional until confirmed by the IEBC.

The warning came in the wake of alarming reports that UDA Communications Director Wanjohi Githae and Chief Of Staff Davis Chirchir were missing from Bomas where the national tallying of Presidential reports is underway.

The false reports by Digital strategist Dennis Itumbi that the two had been arrested or kidnapped went viral but a section of journalists and leaders immediately clarified that the claims were not true.

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator-elect, Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen dispelled the rumours.

Twitter has flagged with a disclaimer several tweets on a purported final tally of presidential results.

Media houses have been tallying the presidential election results but declaration is the prerogative of IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati who is the presidential returning officer.