April 2, 2021

Summary

The Star Newspaper ran a faux story under the headline,  ‘Obamas land today for Mama Sarah’s burial rites’ –  April fools Day prank.

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Obamas in Kenya -Star Newspaper Pulls a Classic Fools Day Prank

Obamas in Kenya -Star Newspaper Pulls a Classic Fools Day Prank

The Star Newspaper on Wednesday ran a faux story under the headline; Obamas land today for Mama Sarah’s burial rites and went ahead to further creatively insert a fictitious paragraph as part of April fools Day prank, saying Obama was to pay a courtesy call at The Star’s offices as an “appreciation of the newspaper’s good work in keeping him informed”.

“The Star newspaper is the best in the country. I can tell you I used to read the Star newspaper every day when I was President because it acquainted me with a lot of things in Kenya,” Obama told the Star editor.

Prior to the faux endorsement, the paper had reported that the former US president would pay a courtesy call on President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House in Nairobi before flying to Kisumu en route to K’ogelo in Siaya county for his grand mother’s burial.

“Before flying to Kisumu en route to K’ogelo in Siaya county – his father’s ancestral home – Obama will pay a courtesy call on President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House in Nairobi. Later, he will visit the Star offices on Waiyaki Way.

In a telephone interview with the Star, Obama said he is a frequent visitor to the Star website, adding that the site has kept him abreast of the happenings in the country.” the article read.

The paper had however at the end of the article noted that “Today is April Fools Day”.

Mama Sarah Obama, the Grandmother to former US President Barrack Obama, died on Monday at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Hospital in Kisumu County, where she had been receiving treatment for a month and a half.

Below are some of the comments from Kenyans on Twitter (KOT) who got fooled by the Star’s Fools Day Prank

Lord Abraham Mutai : Obamas land today for Mama Sarah’s burial rites..hahahaha Ok you guys

@TheStarKenya got me. I had to read further and further to realize you fooled me. Obama called the Star and he will visit the star? Lol

Evans Kering™: @TheStarKenya You had me in the first half, not gonna lie
Rik : @TheStarKenya
I almost fell for this, actually I had fell for it but upon intending to pass the same message its when it hit me,nope, ain’t no way!

Izhaki Myaudi: @TheStarKenya We’re fooled already… Thank you

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