By Samuel Ouma
The National Police Service (NPS) of Kenya has dismissed as fake a document circulating on social media claiming that 122 foreigners from various African countries were arrested in connection with recent street protests in Nairobi and other parts of the country.
The alleged press statement, bearing the NPS logo and purportedly signed by the Director of Corporate Communication, listed nationalities and figures of supposed arrests, blaming foreigners for inciting violence and participating in riots. However, the police have refuted the document’s authenticity, terming it “fake and misleading.”
“This press statement circuiting on social media, purporting to be issued by the spokesperson of the National Police Service, is fake,” said NPS.
The viral document, which bore the word “FAKE” stamped in red across it, appears to be a deliberate attempt to spread misinformation and incite xenophobia amid rising public tensions.
The fake document falsely claimed that the highest number of foreigners arrested were Burundians (26), followed by South Sudanese (19) and Rwandans (18).
It also listed 17 Somalis, 12 Congolese, 9 Nigerians, 7 Ugandans, 3 Yemenis, and 11 individuals identified as stateless.
