A video shared on X(formerly Twitter)and TikTok purporting that President William Ruto introduced Defence Cabinet Secretary, Ms Soipan Tuya as his ex-girlfriend is altered.

Ruto and Tuya are visible in the clip as he allegedly makes the statement. The video’s caption, in Swahili, translates to: ‘This is my former girlfriend; we will continue planting trees.’

The clip was shared following cabinet changes after Ruto dismissed his cabinet on July 11, 2024, in an effort to form a ‘broad-based government’ following anti-government protests. In his new nominations, Ruto initially appointed Tuya as Environment CS and later nominated her for the Defence docket.

His choice of new cabinet members faced widespread criticism. Tuya, in particular, was subjected to sexist attacks online after her nomination. In response, Maasai women, under the Maa Women’s Umbrella Network lobby, publicly condemned the surge in cyberbullying and sexual harassment against Ms. Tuya.”

WOKN performed a Google reverse search of a screengrab from the circulating video to determine the clip’s authenticity. The results brought up a TikTok video where Ruto is seen introducing his wife, Rachel. 

A further keyword search led us to a YouTube video of Ruto introducing his wife, shared on May 10, 2024. The footage bears the State House logo and a subsequent review of the State House YouTube channel brought up the original video, which dates back to the National Tree Planting Day on May 10, 2024, when Kenya’s President William Ruto led a tree planting exercise at Kambicho Forest in Murang’a County. 

In the original video, President Ruto introduces his wife Rachel as his former girlfriend at the 8:20 mark after which he introduces Soipan Tuya, establishing that Ruto was speaking of his wife and not Tuya as alleged. 

This fact-check was written by Woman Kenya Network fact-checker Priscilla Kimani and edited by Woman Kenya Network Editor, Aruna Museti.

This fact-check was produced by Woman Kenya Network (WOKN) under the African Fact-Checking Incubator program, with support from PesaCheck, Code for Africa’s fact-checking initiative, and the African Fact-Checking Alliance(AFCA).

Woman Kenya Network is a distinguished digital media company committed to advancing gender equality and promoting the equitable participation of women and girls in society.

Launched in 2018, WOKN has grown into a fully-fledged digital media platform with a vibrant social media presence on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

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