This video, which has been shared widely on social media platforms such as X, YouTube, and TikTok, has caused a significant amount of controversy and confusion among the public.
Many viewers have been misled into believing the video is genuine, adding fuel to ongoing political debates.
The origin of the controversy can be traced back to events that unfolded earlier this year. On July 11, 2024, President Ruto made the bold decision to dismiss his entire cabinet.
This decision came after several weeks of nationwide protests against proposed tax hikes, which had led to widespread unrest and even deadly violence. In an effort to calm the situation, Ruto announced the abandonment of the Finance Act, 2024, and promised to address the public's grievances.
In his televised address following the cabinet dismissal, President Ruto stated that he would engage in extensive consultations to form a broad-based government. His aim was to include representatives from various political formations and sectors of society.
Despite these efforts, Ruto's choices for his new cabinet have faced considerable criticism. Critics argue that some of the re-nominated cabinet secretaries, such as Kithure Kindiki (Interior), Aden Duale (Environment), and Soipan Tuya (Defence), do not represent the change needed to tackle the country's challenges effectively.
The video in question appears to show President Ruto introducing Soipan Tuya as his ex-girlfriend during a public event. However, a reverse search of the video reveals that it has been altered from its original version.
The genuine footage is from the National Tree Planting Day, which took place on May 10, 2024. During this event, President Ruto led a tree planting exercise at Kiambicho Forest in Murang'a County. The original footage can be found on the State House Kenya's YouTube channel, as well as in a broadcast by NTV.
In the authentic video, President Ruto is seen speaking briefly about his relationship with his wife, Rachel Ruto, before introducing Soipan Tuya.
At no point does he make any personal disclosures about Tuya. The doctored video, however, has been edited to insert a false statement, creating the impression that Ruto referred to Tuya as his ex-girlfriend.
A close examination of the altered video reveals several signs of tampering. One of the most noticeable discrepancies is the lip-sync issue. The synchronization between Ruto's lip movements and the audio is inconsistent, which is a common sign of video manipulation.
Additionally, the audio clip mentioning Tuya as Ruto's ex-girlfriend has a different tone compared to the rest of the speech. This inconsistency suggests that the audio was spliced in from another source, further indicating that the video has been doctored.
The spread of this misleading video has had significant implications. In the current political climate, where there is already considerable scrutiny of President Ruto's cabinet appointments, such false information can exacerbate tensions and undermine public trust in the government.
Soipan Tuya, in particular, has faced increased scrutiny and online attacks following her nomination to the top State job. The dissemination of doctored videos like this one can harm the reputations of public figures and create unnecessary controversy.
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