Fake News: NASA planted bomb on Susan Kihika’s helicopter that crashed into Lake Nakuru

(Photo: Courtesy)

Fake news, hoaxes, and outright lies are spreading fast on social media ahead of the repeat presidential election scheduled to take place on Thursday (October 26).

A fake post purportedly published on the The Standard has been doing rounds indicating that the National Super Alliance (NASA) planted a bomb on the helicopter that crashed into Lake Nakuru on Saturday (October 21).

“POLICE UNCOVERS: NASA planted a bomb on Kihikia’s chopper that crashed in Lake Nakuru,” the fake post reads.

 

Fake news circulating on Facebook.

 

The Standard would like to distance itself and categorically state that it did not publish such.

A fake tweet purpotedly posted by KTN News also did rounds on social media in September, allegedly confirming the resignation of NASA Co-principal Musalia Mudavadi from the coalition.

On September 10, 2017 a fake memo alluded that Jubilee Party's Secretary General Raphael Tuju had called on President Uhuru supporters to back IEBC CEO, Ezra Chiloba, on the grounds that the Opposition was hell bent on making sure that he (Chiloba) was kicked out of the electoral commission.

A research published in June evaluated information shared on social media and found much of the content could not be trusted as “hoaxes and fake news spread virally as reliable information”.

Some users struggle to cope with information overload caused by the messages that flood their timelines and do not question information sources.

Parts of the ill-fated chopper that plunged into Lake Nakuru were retrieved on Sunday (October 22).

A first aid box, helicopter log book , briefcase, ear phones, plane chair, pieces of Aircraft parts one bearing writing ‘5Y’, parts of its body including the door were recovered.

The private chopper crashed into Lake Nakuru shortly after takeoff from a hotel in the town.

Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika affirmed that three of the five people onboard were members of her media team.

The five were heading to Narok to accompany President Uhuru Kenyatta and other Jubilee Party leaders for a campaign rally.

 

Splintered parts of the helicopter that crashed into Lake Nakuru on Saturday (Photo: Courtesy)