Kenya Airways has strongly criticized former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko for spreading false claims about a plane crash in what appeared to be an April Fool’s Day joke.
In an official statement released on Tuesday, April 1, the national carrier called out Sonko for irresponsibly sharing misleading information regarding aviation safety.
Earlier in the day, Sonko took to social media, posting, “A Kenya Airways plane has crashed.”
Responding swiftly, Kenya Airways refuted his claims and urged him to remove the misleading post.
“This is not funny! Spreading false information about aviation safety is irresponsible! Kindly take it down,” Kenya Airways stated.
Public Backlash Against Sonko
While some of Sonko’s supporters defended his post as a harmless joke, many Kenyans criticized him for making light of a serious issue.
One social media user, Julius Mbuvi, expressed outrage, saying:
“Thank you, Kenya Airways. I was infuriated by that post. Making jokes for clout from someone of his caliber is disgusting!”
Another concerned netizen, David Macharia, added:
“Only those with loved ones traveling today know how terrifying that tweet was to them.”
Similar April Fool’s Day Controversy
In April 2024, a Kenyan media outlet faced legal threats from Nigerian singer Davido after falsely reporting that he had been arrested for drug possession.
The now-deleted article falsely claimed that Davido was detained in Kenya after authorities found cocaine on his private jet. The misinformation quickly spread, forcing the singer and Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to issue clarifications.
Reacting to the false report, Davido stated:
“I have never been arrested in any country for any crime. I find such fabrications extremely irresponsible, even if it was meant as an April Fool’s joke.”
The DCI also condemned the prank, labeling it “fake news” and urging media outlets to be responsible with their content.
The controversy surrounding Mike Sonko’s post highlights the dangers of spreading false information, particularly in matters of aviation safety. As Kenya Airways and the public have demonstrated, misinformation-even as a joke-can have serious consequences.
