Kenyans cast suspicion on activities from X accounts belonging to abduction victims

Most abductees appeared in random towns or just found their way home in the early hours of the morning, mostly disoriented and mentally shaken.

From Billy Mwangi to Bernard Kavuli, these Kenyans were reintroduced to their families and the outside world, some immediately shunning the media spotlight with others appearing on several televised pressers, just to confirm their safety and status to the doubting thomases.

While neither has explicitly narrated their experiences at the hands of the abductors, there appears to be some rather intriguing activity on some of their X accounts, most of which has now been red-flagged by the public and deemed suspicious.

Already, Billy Mwangi has come out to state that he is not the one behind a particular X account which has been tweeting in his persona and attempting to hoodwink the public and use the opportunity to amass followers.

Speaking to the media, Billy said: "This is Billy Mwangi. Those guys who are using my Twitter accounts and parodies are not me. I am not on Twitter. Mine was hacked and they took my phone. Incase of anything, I will update you guys in due course."

Billy's clarification was in response to an X account going by the handle @BillyMwangi_1 , which, soon after his release, embarked on a tweeting spree, confusing many and distorting the truth.

Now, in light of a possibility of foul play on X, where foreign actors might hijack one's identity and use the opportunity to spread falsehoods and twist facts, a section of keen Kenyans is now cautioning the public from merely falling into the trap and interacting with X accounts whose tweets may appear suspicious or inconsistent with the handle's owner.

Kibet Bull, the viral cartoonist who was released on Monday night, is now the latest victim of suspicion on his X account with many people now claiming that Kibet may not necessarily be the one tweeting and that his account may be under the hands of shady state operatives.

Some have failed to reconcile the pre-abduction Kibet to the current Kibet who seems to be talking too much, sharing alot of personal information, engaging in idle banter and even soliciting for cash.

"This is not Kibet Bull!" someone said on X. "This is not how Kibet used to behave online. This is definitely someone else using his account to fool Kenyans. We need video proof from Kibet telling us that he's actually the one doing these tweets! It doesn't sound and feel like Kibet Bull at all!"

Another X user added, "Kibet Bull was not the type to ask for cash online. This new Kibet is now asking Kenyans to send him money. I smell a rat. I think his account has been hijacked inorder to form a narrative. Guys, don't engage that account until further notice!"

Controversial government critic Francis Gaitho also joined the chorus, cautioning Kenyans from interacting with any account associated with any of the ex-abductees.

He wrote: "Don’t engage with any social media pages purporting to be for the abductees until video proof that it’s they who are actually in control of the accounts. The first thing @DCI_Kenya do after arrest/abductions is take the gadgets. I think Billy Mwangi has stated the same in an interview a while ago."

Seeking to win trust of netizens, the page wrote: "Ni mimi jomba. With villagers..." while proceeding to attach a photo of what appears to be villagers gathered around with their cameras out. Kibet cannot be identified in the photo.

Still X user Vero Mwiti couldn't buy the narrative, writing, "I still don't trust this account. You're saying villagers came to welcome you but we cannot see you in the photos. Also, why are there no videos? And why is this account suddenly retweeting so much? Something is not right!"

After his release, Bernard Kavuli shared a simple message assuring fans of his safety and vowing to continue tweeting without fear.

He wrote: "Good evening Fellow Kenyans. I'm FREE, safe and sound. Thank you PATRIOTS  for your UNWAVERING support & LOVE. We must not STOP tweeting. We can't be safe until EVERYONE is safe. Let's continue to stand with those who are still missing."

Kavuli has not made any more tweets or shared any further detail of his ordeal with the abductors. His X account, however, has also been on a retweeting spree.

As Kenyans continue to await comprehensive stories of the happenings before, during and after the abductions, the victims have so far chosen to hold on to their experiences - and some of their X accounts have left Kenyans wondering just who, exactly, is talking.