- The Directorate of Criminal Investigations dismissed as fake a viral press release claiming that Farouk Kibet was wanted for questioning
- The fabricated notice, widely circulated on social media on March 4, falsely alleged that President William Ruto’s aide was evading police
- It also misleadingly warned the public that Kibet was “armed and dangerous” and claimed a KSh 20 million reward had been offered
- DCI officials quickly flagged the statement as fake, sharing the image stamped “FAKE” online and urging the public to disregard the misinformation
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has dismissed a viral press release circulating online.
Source: Facebook
It claimed that President William Ruto’s aide, Farouk Kibet, is wanted for questioning over alleged criminal activities.
What claims did ‘press release’ make over Farouk Kibet
The agency issued a public clarification after the document, which bore the appearance of an official DCI communication, spread widely across social media platforms on Tuesday, March 4.
As per the purported notice, Kibet was being sought by investigators in connection with alleged organised criminal activities, including abductions, abuse of office and obstruction of justice.
In the widely circulated statement, the fabricated notice alleged that Kibet, identified as a former Presidential Chief of Protocol born on March 31, 1965, was evading law enforcement and was believed to be moving between undisclosed locations within Kenya.
It further claimed that the last known sighting of the president’s aide was at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), specifically at Terminal 1.
The document also attempted to caution members of the public against approaching him, portraying him as “armed and dangerous” and suggesting that he had indirect ties with interior security forces.
It further indicated that a reward of KSh 20 million had allegedly been offered to anyone who could provide credible information leading to his arrest and prosecution.
How did DCI respond to the viral ‘press statement’?
However, the DCI quickly intervened to counter the claims after the document began attracting public attention online.
Through its official social media platforms, the investigative agency categorically discredited the circulating notice, making it clear that the press release was not authentic.
The DCI shared an image of the viral letter stamped boldly with the word “FAKE,” warning the public against believing or spreading the misleading information.
The DCI did not indicate any ongoing investigations involving Kibet, who is widely known as a close aide and influential figure within Ruto’s political circle.
Over the years, Kibet has remained a key figure around the head of state, often accompanying him during official functions and political tours.
Source: UGC
Did the eCitizen platform lose money?
Elsewhere, social media platform X was flooded with claims alleging that KSh 1.3 trillion had been lost through the government’s eCitizen platform.
The allegations quickly spread online, prompting a response from the Office of the Auditor-General.
In a statement issued on the night of March 3, 2026, the office clarified that the viral claims did not originate from any of its official audit reports.
It warned that the information circulating online was misleading and urged the public to rely only on verified communication released through its official channels.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
