Kenyan musician Bien, known for his role in the popular band Sauti Sol, has voiced his disapproval of a recent April Fools’ Day prank orchestrated by a Kenyan media outlet.

The media house, in a now-deleted tweet, falsely claimed that Nigerian artist Davido and his crew were arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for allegedly possessing cocaine worth Ksh18 million.

The tweet sparked outrage among netizens, with many condemning the media house for its reckless and irresponsible behaviour. In response to the backlash, the media outlet issued a clarification, stating that the report was indeed a hoax intended for April Fools’ Day.

However, Bien took to social media to express his disappointment, highlighting the lack of professionalism and ethical standards in Kenya’s media landscape. In a comment on the post, he criticized the media outlet for its “thoughtless and crass” prank, emphasizing the importance of upholding journalistic integrity.

“As a journalist myself,” Bien remarked, “I am appalled by k24’s lack of conventional wisdom and basic media ethics. The fabrication of such serious allegations, even in the context of April Fools’, is extremely irresponsible.”

He further emphasized the need for the media in Kenya to “shape up or perish,” urging for a more responsible approach to reporting. Bien’s statement reflects the growing frustration among both artists and the public regarding the sensationalism and lack of accountability in the media industry.

In the midst of the controversy, Davido himself responded to the false reports, asserting their inaccuracy. In a statement issued by the acclaimed Nigerian artist, he reassured his fans that the allegations were entirely untrue. He also expressed his disdain for the dissemination of such misinformation, vowing to pursue legal action against those responsible.

“Fam, it has come to my attention that false reports regarding an arrest circulated online on April 1st, which has since led to a barrage of calls. I want to assure my fans that these reports are entirely untrue.

“I find the fabrication of allegations of such international crimes extremely irresponsible regardless of the light of ‘April Fools’, and my lawyer is seeking legal recourse against the media parties responsible for generating this misinformation.”Davido in the report said.