Nairobi, Kenya, Mar 25-Independent fact checkers have deemed Friday’s post by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) featuring images of individuals who purportedly destroyed property during Monday’s anti-government protests as “partly false information.”
The DCI ordered all individuals whose images were circulated to surrender themselves to the criminal agency by 5 pm Friday.
However, the country’s criminal agency has elicited mixed reactions after it emerged that some of the photos it circulated of the alleged wanted individuals over hooliganism were taken on different dates, some as far back as 10 years ago.
Some of the posted photos were also not shot in Kenya while others were not related to the Opposition chief Raila Odinga’s led demonstration.
One of the notable photos of a man appearing to return a teargas canister to the security agencies that has come to be known as “returning officer” was shot by Getty Images, an American British Visual media company and a supplier of stock images and editorial photography.
A reverse image by TinEye image search and recognition company, shows the image was first found on May 5 2017.
“Partly false information. Checked by independent fact-checkers,” read the notice flagged by Facebook.
Another image showing a group of people holding sticks as two of them appear to jump over partly burnt branches was shot in 2015 in Burundi’s Capital Bujumbura by an AFP photographer.
A reverse image search of the image shows it was first found on May 5 2015.
As of Saturday March 25, 10:30 am, the agency was yet to pull down some of the photos that have been labelled false.
The agency made the move days after President William Ruto labeled protestors linked to vandalism as “economic terrorists“.
It said the wanted individuals took advantage of the demonstrations to destroy public property, attack innocent members of the public and hurling projectiles at police officers who were on duty protecting life and property.
“The suspects are requested to present themselves at the Serious Crimes offices based at DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road or at their nearest police station before close of business today for further action,” DCI said Friday.
According to the DCI property of unknown value was destroyed while a total of 33 officers suffered injuries of various degrees as a result of the actions of the wanted persons.
Missing firearm
The agency further said that a firearm whose magazine was loaded with 15 rounds of 9mm calibre was also lost by one of the security officers in Embakasi area, after he was attacked by a riotous mob.
The officer was part of security agents who were enforcing peace in the area.