U.S. Embassy Dismisses Fake Travel Ban on Murkomen and Sudi
A fabricated document claiming to impose a travel ban on Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi was exposed as fake on Monday, December 1.
The widely circulated fake letter, which mimicked the United States Embassy, falsely announced indefinite travel restrictions on the two officials. The statement, dated December 1, alleged that Murkomen and Sudi were barred from traveling to the U.S. until further notice.
“The U.S. Government, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Kenya, hereby restricts the individuals named Oscar Kipchumba Sudi and Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen from entering the United States of America,” read part of the fake letter, which contained noticeable spelling errors.
Embassy Denounces the Fake Letter
On December 2, the U.S. Embassy flagged the letter as fraudulent. The document bore the USCIS government seal and an unauthorized signature falsely attributed to Director Mendoza Jaddou.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, the U.S. Embassy clarified that no such communication was issued. “These letters are fake. Creating or distributing false government documents is illegal in both Kenya and the United States,” said U.S. Embassy spokesperson James Hagengruber.
Signs of a Forgery
The fake document displayed multiple red flags, such as typographical errors, inconsistent fonts, and poor formatting. It also claimed that the officials were banned for allegedly accepting bribes and awarding tenders to the Adani Group Limited.
The document stated that the travel restrictions took effect at midnight on December 1, suspending visa exemptions, tourist visas, and e-visas for Murkomen and Sudi. However, the U.S. Embassy reaffirmed, “The travel ban indicated in the letter is fake and was not issued by any U.S. government official.”
Rising Trend of Fake News
This incident highlights the growing prevalence of misinformation. Just days earlier, a fake job advertisement claiming to recruit en masse for the Social Health Authority (SHA) was flagged. SHA, through its official X (formerly Twitter) account, denounced the poster as fake and cautioned the public against being misled.
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U.S. Embassy Dismisses Fake Travel Ban on Murkomen and Sudi
