The British High Commission in Nairobi has dismissed as fake a viral letter claiming the UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer had refused to meet former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

The document circulating on X and WhatsApp stated that the UK Prime Minister’s Office had declined a meeting request from Gachagua and referenced Kenya’s 2027 political environment.

Gachagua was subjected to ridicule by a section of political rivals, who had fallen hook, line and sinker for the letter, which has been established to have been doctored.

In the fake letter purported to be from the Prime Minister's office, the DCP Leader was informed that Starmer's diary was booked, and there was no alternative window to meet him.

"It has come to our attention that the principal purpose of the engagement being sought was not consular, humanitarian or bilateral in character, but rather oriented towards the domestic political landscape of the Republic of Kenya.

"The Majesty's government wishes to make its position unambiguously clear; the United Kingdom does not consider it appropriate for the political contests of a sovereign nation to be conducted, signalled, or validated through engagements with British Ministers or officials," the fake letter read in part.

The formal tone and branding made it spread quickly online, sparking debate about UK-Kenya relations and Gachagua’s current UK trip.

British High Commission confirmed the letter is not genuine and did not originate from any UK government channel and on a light note, stated that it lacked certain features.

“The British High Commission Nairobi confirms that this letter circulating on social media is fake. If it were real, it would probably be stained with spilt tea,” the Commission said in a statement on Friday, May 22.

Officials said the content did not reflect any diplomatic communication and urged the public to treat it as fabricated material. They added that official branding and language alone don’t make a document authentic.

The fake letter surfaced as Gachagua is in the UK for a series of engagements with the diaspora. His visit has drawn attention back home, with political rivals and supporters parsing every meeting and statement for signals about 2027 alliances.

The High Commission warned that misleading documents spread fast during politically sensitive periods and urged Kenyans to verify information before sharing.

There has been no announcement of a meeting between Gachagua and UK government officials. The High Commission did not comment on whether any request had been made, only that the viral letter was not real. Gachagua’s team has not responded to the UK statement.