A local news website Kenya Today last week published a story claiming that police officers in Shanghai had busted an operation manufacturing fake high-end condoms for the Kenyan market. The story claimed that the officers had seized 3 million counterfeit condoms packaged to be sent to Kenya among them condoms of the popular Durex brand. Good story but the only problem is that it’s completely false!
Kenya Today lifted the story from a piece by ShanghaiDaily.com that had nothing to do with Kenya. In fact the ShanghaiDaily article is pretty clear about where the condoms were headed.
“Police said most of the fake condoms were eventually supplied at small inns,” it said.
But Kenya Today felt the need to take some creative license with the facts.
Sex and scandal are a portent combination. Add to that the extra layer of intrigue from the fact that the Chinese are supposed to be our new BFF’s (Thika Super Highway anyone?) and you have a story with legs to run for days.
Exposed, A Chinese Firm Manufacturing Poisonous Condoms For Kenya!: Only this morning Kenyans were hating on t… http://t.co/S6AO1jkjuN
— Ghafla.co.ke (@GhaflaKenya) April 28, 2015
Shanghai police have seized 3 million fake condoms which were headed for Kenya. The love of money really is the… http://t.co/AuPXFY4AKg
— Abraham Bamboo (@TherealBamboo) April 28, 2015
Who are the corrupted politicians behind?: Chinese firm caught making fake condoms for #Kenya http://t.co/WGEhCuh28P
— simon INOU (@simoninou) April 28, 2015
Alot of complains about durex fakes in the market @DurexKE so this article might just be 100% true http://t.co/jrxhBlc1E9
— #Garissa #147 (@Immanu3) April 27, 2015
Chinese firm caught making fake condoms for Kenya http://t.co/8IJqFRBaIj
— Black Panther (@MisterAlbie) April 27, 2015
But its on Kenya Today readers that the story appears to have had the most negative effect.
“Now you see what this people are” said one reader,
“Kenya’s need to rethink how they do business with the Chinese,” another one chimed in reply.
Just in case you think the story only got traction in Kenya then still your heart. The creative labors of the scribes at Kenya Today have also received attention from the continental press with news outlets in South Africa, Nigeria and Malawi reporting the story.
Send these to Kenya.: Chinese company under fire for manufacturing fake condoms By: Paul Nthala Just as… http://t.co/2fXFDlAvIS
— Malawi24 (@Malawi24) April 27, 2015
Chinese firm caught making fake condoms for Kenya – This Is Africa Lifestyle – http://t.co/9wRBcalNUx pic.twitter.com/5ab5Bi3Ss4
— Cameroononline (@cameroononline) April 27, 2015
Chinese Firm Caught Making Fake Condoms For Kenya http://t.co/uT4YtzVqlk
— JumpFon (@JumpFon) April 27, 2015
So there you have it. A false story manufactured from the ether has managed to get attention it does not deserve. I hope whoever is in charge at Kenya Today will knock some heads together and issues an apology. We live in turbulent and confusing times so its never been more important for journalists – as the purveyors of information – to do their job right. This is not a responsibility to be taken lightly or abused. Kenyans are watching. Do the right thing Kenya Today.
