The Russian Embassy in Kenya has disowned a viral video clip featuring a fake voice-over of President Vladimir Putin. The video, widely shared on TikTok, falsely showed Putin supporting ongoing protests in Kenya. The Embassy clarified that the voice and captions were added to real footage of a past event unrelated to Kenya's current situation.
In a statement, the Embassy warned about the misinformation, emphasizing that neither the Russian government nor President Putin has commented on the protests, which began on June 18. The protests are primarily led by Kenyan youth, including Generation Z, opposing the Finance Bill 2024 due to its new taxes.
The Embassy has been advising its citizens on safety during the protests. Recently, it recommended avoiding Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) and other protest hotspots. "To the attention of Russian citizens located in Kenya: There is currently an increased risk of mass demonstrations in Nairobi and other cities in Kenya," the Embassy cautioned, advising against visiting central Nairobi on July 2, 2024.