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A tweet by President Kenyatta eulogising Winnie Mandela, the ex-wife of late iconic South African President, Nelson Mandela and who passed away on Monday, went viral on social media after claims of plagiarism.
In a condolences message posted via his official Twitter handle, the President described Winnie as a courageous woman and a liberator.
“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,” President Kenyatta tweeted.
Cameroon Voice, a Cameroonian online news site in an article titled “Africa Mourns Courageous Winnie Mandela” carried President Uhuru's quote and those of other African leaders who mourned Winnie.
However, a Kenyan Twitter user juxtaposed the Head of State's tweet with a screenshot of the Cameroon Voice's article, accusing President Kenyatta of directly copy pasting the website's words.
A section of Kenyans on the social media platform went ahead to blindingly bash Kenyatta for 'plagiarism', without knowledge that the news website actually quoted the president’s tweet.
Here is how Kenyans reacted;
@nyaseme_said:"Wow your president's twitter account even plagiarises tweets. Not surprised."
@musajuma05 noted: "Analytica waliacha kazi ya kuandika speech ma frend'."
@Nyarkatolo said: "Now you understand why they go to Cambridge Analytica to write their speeches. Lack of content and originality."
"Everything in jubilee is fake," @mbate tweeted.
@afrikandionysus noted: "Ni ule itumbi hii ndo ubaya ya kupatia unqualified people kazi."
@CCmasitta said: "@UKenyatta why do you embarrass us this way?"
@lucilleonyango tweeted:"@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."
Nevertheless, a few social media users were aware that the website was quoting President Kenyatta. "The Article was quoting President Kenyatta" @kinga_stanly said.