CNN, BBC Targeted by Fake News on Uhuru, Raila Presidential Contest

Two global broadcasting firms have been targeted in fake video reports about the upcoming August 8 Kenyan Presidential race pitting incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and his main rival National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential candidate Raila Odinga.

Two video reports, one purported to have been produced by the BBC and the other by CNN have been circulating on Kenyan social media this week, showing opinion polls on who is the leading candidate ahead of next month’s elections.

The reports show bogus polls indicating a first round victory for President Uhuru Kenyatta in the polls to be held on August 8.

BBC and CNN took to the social media to dismiss the opinion poll reports, denying ever broadcasting the content.

"A fake video report about Kenya's election that is made to appear as if it is from the BBC's Focus on Africa program has been circulating on social media. The report contains a bogus poll indicating that President Uhuru Kenyatta will win August's election. The BBC has urged Kenyans to verify stories by visiting the BBC website," the BBC statement read.

CNN also denied a similar video bearing its logo that has been trending on social media showing President Uhuru Kenyatta as the most popular candidate ahead of the elections. In a tweet their public relations twitter handle; CNN dismissed the video as fake news.

"This report on Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is fake. CNN did not produce or broadcast this story," the tweet by CNN International PR team read.

A recent released survey showed that 90% of Kenyans have consumed false news in the run-up to the elections.