The Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs has dismissed claims circulating on social media that Charlene Ruto, daughter of President William Ruto, has been appointed chairperson of the National Mining Corporation for a three-year term.

In an official statement shared online, the ministry labeled the viral notice as "fake," and provided the legitimate appointment notice, which names Joseph Kipchumba Lagat as the actual appointee.

The genuine notice reads: “In exercise of the powers conferred by section 25 (1) (a) of the Mining Act, 2016, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint JOSEPH KIPCHUMBA LAGAT to be the Chairperson of the National Mining Corporation, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 4th October, 2024.”

The original document, dated October 3, was altered in the fake version to replace Lagat's name with Charlene Chelagat Ruto, while keeping all other details identical, including the Gazette Notice number.

The doctored notice went viral on Friday, causing widespread public outrage. Many criticized the President, accusing him of nepotism by allegedly appointing his daughter to a senior government position. One social media post read, "When we were busy with Rigathi Gachagua's impeachment, William Ruto appointed Charlene Ruto as the chairperson of the National Mining Corporation."

However, some Kenyans remained skeptical, with one user asking, "Is the appointment of Charlene Ruto true, or just fake information flying around?"

Even after the ministry’s clarification, a portion of the public remains uncertain about the legitimacy of the appointment, as misinformation continues to circulate online.