DCI on spot for posting false images claiming to be of Azimio protestors
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DCI publishes false, misleading information/images purporting to be from Azimio's Monday protestors
DCI publishes false, misleading information/images purporting to be from Azimio’s Monday protestors.
Questions have emerged as to why the Directorate of Criminal Investigations would be using some photos taken more than 15 years ago claiming they were from the Azimio anti-government protests held last Monday.
Taifa Leo claims that several of the images featured were old and had nothing to do with the disturbances.
Also, some of the images were captured in different nations, while others were doctored with Google Reverse Image Search technology to create a false representation of the actual situation on the ground.
For instance, the image of a man hurling a tear gas canister in Kibera, Nairobi, was shot on January 17, 2008.
The image was captured during the tragic post-election violence in the slum in 2007 and is the property of Getty Images.
This came about after ODM leader Raila Odinga contested the election victory of the late Mwai Kibaki.
Also, there was a photo of people jumping from flaming trees that was shot in 2015 during the unrest in Burundi by the international news organization Al Jazeera.
The arrest of 400 demonstrators who were opposed to the late Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza’s third attempt at the presidency sparked the violence.
Also, among the 12 photos that were posted on DCI’s official social media accounts, was a photo that showed youths jumping near a burning tyre.
But Taifa Leo’s investigations show that this photo was taken by Deutsche Welle (DW), a French international media house, on August 16, 2022, and cannot be associated with Monday’s protests.
However, the DCI has used these photos to show the aftermath of the Azimio la Umoja-led Monday protests.
In their post, DCI tweeted, “The criminals who took advantage of the demonstrations were captured on camera destroying public property, attacking innocent members of the public and hurling projectiles at police officers who were on duty protecting life and property.”
The directorate added, “As a result, property of unknown value was destroyed while a total of 33 officers suffered injuries of various degrees and some are still recuperating at various hospitals in the city.”
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Further, it explained, “The Directorate is currently on a manhunt for the suspects whose images appear below as others are being gathered and shall be updated, who will face charges ranging from the robbery with violence, malicious damage to public property and assault among other allied offences.”
DCI is also urging the public to relay any information that could lead to the arrest of those alleged lawbreakers.
However, security experts have countered that the Interior Ministry’s deployment of those images was a ploy to intimidate Kenyans into staying home during Azimio riots, which are scheduled for Mondays and Thursdays in accordance with Mr. Odinga’s pronouncement.
“Still, it is very wrong for the DCI to use fake or past photos that did not show the events of Monday 20th, 2023,” said a retired officer who requested anonymity.
“Further, it is a shame for the DCI to use photos from other countries to drive an agenda that is being vouched for by politicians who are in the governing administration.”
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