In the original video Vladimir Putin was delivering a speech at the Victory Day parade accusing the West of Russophobia.
A TikTok video of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin purportedly delivering a speech in support of anti-finance bill protests in Kenya has been ALTERED.
The clip of Putin speaking in Russian is captioned: “KWISHA!!, support from Russia, #rejectfinancebill” and was posted on the video-sharing platform amidst protests in Kenya to reject the Finance Bill 2024 led by the youth.
Another caption in swahili at the bottom of the video translates to: “What should we ask for? And who will be our spokesperson?”
The subtitles in the video, accompanied by a voice-over translation, allege that Putin is congratulating Kenyan youth for their bravery and pledged support for the movement.
Currently, the economy in many countries is not good but I would like to talk about one country in Africa, specifically East Africa, called Kenya. There have been demonstrations about rejecting this year’s Finance Bill and guess who is leading the demonstrations – Gen Z. I am very proud of the youth in that country because they have unity and one voice and as Russia, we only congratulate the brave,” the translation reads.
According to the clip, Putin further states:: “I know it does not concern me but I support them and will offer to help them with anything they need while demonstrating. Get a spokesman and contact me via the Russian embassy, whatever you need, or to deal with the harassment from the authorities.”
However, our investigation established that the video was altered to include Putin’s supposed support of the protests in Kenya.
Using a reverse image search of a screenshot from the clip, Woman Kenya Network (WOKN) found the original video on the United Kingdom’s broadcasting channel, Sky News YouTube channel.
The translation of Putin’s message in the TikTok video under our scrutiny was altered and is unrelated to the information in the original video captured during the Victory Day Parade on May 9, 2023 in Moscow.
Woman Kenya Network did an independent Google translate, and this is what he said” However, Western globalist elites continue to talk about their exclusivity, pit people against each other and split societies, provoke bloody conflicts and coups, sow hatred, Russophobia, aggressive nationalism, and destroy family and traditional values that make us human.” He continued, “We are proud of the participants in the special operation, all those who fight on the front line, those who deliver goods to the front and save the wounded under fire. Your combat activity is now of paramount importance. The security of the country, the future of our statehood and our people depend on you today.”
In the original clip, the Russian President accused the West of Russophobia. Putin’s sentiments were also reported here and here.
This fact-check was written by Woman Kenya Network fact-checker Trizah Mmwanda and edited by Woman Kenya Project Lead Shadrack Agamira.
This fact-check was produced by Woman Kenya Network, under the African Fact-Checking Incubator programme, with support from PesaCheck, Code for Africa’s fact-checking initiative, and the African Fact-Checking Alliance(AFCA).
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