“Diaspora Replace!!!” reads a message circulating on Facebook since 9 August 2022. “Voting has ended at Kenya Excessive Fee in Sydney, Australia. All 223 Kenyans had voted, (100% Turnout) and the polling officers had no in any other case however to rely the votes.”

It then gives the supposed results of the Australian votes for president in Kenya’s 9 August normal elections. Some versions present an awesome majority for deputy president William Ruto, whereas others give former prime minister Raila Odinga the lead.

Odinga and Ruto are the frontrunners within the presidential race.

Whereas all variations of the message say the voting happened in Australia, some declare it was in Canberra, the capital, and others declare it was in Sydney, the nation’s largest metropolis.

The message has been posted on a public Fb group web page with greater than 270,000 members, as well as on a web page with over 86,700 members, and another with over 13,000 members.

It will also be seen here, here, here, here, here and here.

Kenyans dwelling within the diaspora vote for president at embassies and consulates. Kenya has a high commission in Canberra, however did Kenyans in Australia vote on 9 August? We checked.

Australia not on record of 12 nations

The Kenyan electoral commission has printed a list of all polling stations, in 12 nations, for residents dwelling overseas.

The 12 nations are Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Africa, South Sudan, Germany, the UK, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Canada and the USA.

Australia just isn’t on the record.