Mutua Dismisses Viral Image Showing Him Kneeling Beside President Ruto as Fake
Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has dismissed a widely shared image that appears to show him kneeling beside President William Ruto during a public event, terming it fake and misleading.
In a statement released on Tuesday, January 21, Mutua clarified that the image was not real and had been generated using Artificial Intelligence.
He noted that the manipulated photo was being circulated online by individuals with the intention of spreading misinformation and creating unnecessary confusion among the public.
The Cabinet Secretary strongly warned Kenyans against sharing the image or any other unverified digital content, stressing that doing so contributes to the growing problem of online misinformation.
He urged members of the public to always take time to confirm the authenticity of images and information before forwarding them on social media platforms.
“I wish to alert the public that a manipulated, AI-generated image is currently circulating online, falsely portraying me in a misleading situation. The image is not real and has been digitally altered to spread misinformation and create misunderstanding,” Mutua said in his notice.
He further encouraged Kenyans to rely on official and credible sources when seeking information, especially in an era where digital content can be easily altered.
“I urge all Kenyans to verify information from credible sources and to avoid sharing unverified or sensational content. Let us work together to stop the spread of digital misinformation,” he added.
Mutua’s warning comes at a time when the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence technology has made it easier to create highly realistic images that can easily deceive the public.
Such AI-generated visuals are increasingly being used on social media to falsely portray politicians, public figures, and celebrities in situations that never happened, often sparking heated debates and misleading narratives online.
This is not an isolated case. Just a day earlier, on Tuesday, January 20, several AI-generated images circulated online allegedly showing the demolition of Apostle James Ng’ang’a’s Neno Evangelism Ministry Church near the Nairobi Railway Station.
The images depicted an excavator tearing down the church as crowds looked on, accompanied by claims that the government was demolishing the building to make way for a new railway line.
However, a spot check conducted by Newshub.co.ke revealed that the images were also AI-generated and that the claims surrounding the alleged demolition were false and misleading.
In another recent incident from December 2025, an AI-generated image surfaced online claiming that “Mood,” the popular matatu owned by President William Ruto’s son, George Ruto, had been involved in a crash. A closer visual examination by Newshub.co.ke exposed several inconsistencies in the image, including distorted background details—common indicators of AI-generated content.
These repeated incidents highlight the growing challenge posed by digital manipulation and underscore the need for increased public awareness and media literacy as AI technology continues to evolve.
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