The Kenya Airports Authority has termed the claim false.
This Facebook post claiming that the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is auctioning unattended luggage is FALSE.
The post, accompanied by an image of an open area with suitcases and bags, reads: “Lost luggage for only 290 KSh! We’re closing the airport warehouse and selling off over 1000 lost luggage. To buy, go to the website and place your order!
The post also has a website link whose landing page bears the branding of the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), the state authority that handles civilian airports and airstrips.
The website claims to be having a luggage sale and has a statement that reads: You’re welcome!
You have become a participant of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport promotion! We are urgently clearing out the airport warehouse and selling luggage that has been unattended for more than 6 months. According to the rules, it should be disposed of, but we are organising a charity event and giving it away for just 290 KSh . To get Lost luggage, you need to answer a few questions that will prove you are a real person. Hurry, the quantity is limited!”
But is this a directive of the Kenya Airports Authority?
VERIFICATION
To verify the claim, Lake Region Bulletin searched for the KAA’s official Facebook page. Upon checking the page, Lake Region Bulletin established the website had been flagged as fake by the authority.
The KAA post reads “PUBLIC NOTICE! Jambo! We have been made aware of misleading online posts claiming that KAA is running a promotion at JKIA to clear out the airport warehouse by selling unattended luggage and items. We want to clarify that these claims are FAKE & should be disregarded”
To further verify the authenticity of the website under scrutiny, Lake Region Bulletin checked its registration details on Whois. A domain search of the website bearing KAA branding reveals that its details were hidden, an indication that it was not authentic.
On the other hand, KAA’s website details were available, with the government of Kenya registered as the owner.
VERDICT
Lake Region Bullet established that the claim that JKIA is auctioning luggage is FALSE.
This fact-check was produced by Lake Region Bulletin, under the African Fact-Checking Incubator programme, with support from PesaCheck, Code for Africa’s fact-checking initiative, and the African Fact-Checking Alliance(AFCA).
