Uhuru’s tweet on Winnie Mandela goes viral for the wrong reasons
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tweet eulogising the late Winnie Mandela went viral on social media over claims of plagiarism.
President Kenyatta had on his official Twitter account praised the late Winnie Mandela who died on Monday at the age of 81 years as a courageous woman and a freedom fighter.
“In the end, her courage was rewarded: she lived to see Mandela free; she lived to see her country liberated; and she went on to serve a free South Africa until her death,” tweeted Mr Kenyatta.
A Cameroonian news website, Cameroon Voice, carried the quote -alongside others- in their story titled “Africa Mourns Courageous Winnie Mandela”.
The story captured condolences sent by different African head of states on Winnie Mandela’s death.
A Kenyan tweep, however, juxtaposed Uhuru’s tweet with a screenshot of the online story, and misleadingly claimed that the president’s tweet was a product of plagiarism.
Some Kenyans on Twitter blindingly delivered a harsh judgement on Mr Kenyatta without realising that the website was actually quoting the president’s tweet.
https://twitter.com/nyaseme_/status/981036653702729728
Here are some of the tweeps who fell for the blunder.
Analytica waliacha kazi ya kuandika speech ma frend’
— Woud Lando (@musajuma05) April 3, 2018
Now you understand why they go to Cambridge Analytica to write their speeches. Lack of content and originality.
— Rachel Okuom (@Nyarkatolo) April 3, 2018
Everything in jubilee is fake
— Francis Mbate (@mbate) April 3, 2018
The Article was quoting President Kenyatta pic.twitter.com/r3uicJvUfR
— Stanley Kinga (@kinga_stanley) April 3, 2018
This is pure malice. You have done selective reading.
Read the whole article here: https://t.co/DaOFpV2uPu
— Chrispinus Juma (@chrispinusjuma_) April 3, 2018
Ni ule itumbi hii ndo ubaya ya kupatia unqualified people kazi
— afrikandionysus (@afrikandionysus) April 3, 2018
Very bad indeed…..Hata wange acknowledge the source
— Zeddy Kay (@zack_nganga) April 3, 2018
@UKenyatta why do you embarrass us this way?
— CHRIS MASITTA, HSC (@CCmasitta) April 3, 2018
@OleItumbi @RobertAlai please give#CambridgeAnalytica this tender . We’ll even do a funds drive here on twitter to cater for the expenses. My Frens trying to eulogise icons is just beyond your intellectual capacities. Stick to commending githeri people. Lanes..lanes people ✌
— ?Nyar Loka ?? (@lucilleonyango) April 3, 2018
He has no content .????
— SYLVESTER MUSHDEZY (@sylvestermush) April 3, 2018