FACT-CHECK: Jonglei State Governor, Riek Gai Kok, is not dead

Written by Young Journalists Integrity Fellows

A Facebook post circulating online has falsely claimed that the governor of Jonglei State, Riek Gai Kok, is rumoured to have died in Nairobi.

The claim, shared by a Facebook page with the headline “BREAKING NEWS”, alleges that the governor is “rumoured to have passed on”

The post has since gained huge attention with over 100 reactions and comments expressing condolence messages.

Debunking the Claim:

A keyword search on Google for “Jonglei State Governor, Riek Gai Kok, is dead” shows that the governor isn’t dead; however, he was airlifted to Nairobi as reported by The City Review Newspaper.

In its official post on the Facebook page of the governor, the press unit stated that the governor is currently receiving treatment in Nairobi and is in stable condition and urged the public to disregard the claims.

“This claim is baseless, misleading and intended to cause unnecessary alarm among the public. The governor is alive, and the public is strongly advised to disregard this unfounded report,” reads part of the statement from the governor’s press office.

Radio Tamazuj, a reliable online radio broadcaster, on the 11th of February, 2026 published an article with the headline ‘Governor Riek Gai flown to Kenya after falling ill’.

Eye Radio on the 12th of February 2026, while quoting the governor’s office report, published an article with the headline, ‘Governor Raik Gai alive and recovering; family dismisses death claims.’

Other sources refuting the claim and published articles can be seen here, here and here.

Our Verdict:

The ClarityDesk has found the claim that the Governor of Jonglei is dead to be false: Reliable information from the office of the governor and credible news reports show that he was airlifted to Kenya when ill but he is recovering now.

This article is published by The ClarityDesk, with the support of the Election Civic Tech Fund of AfricTivistes, within the AHEAD Africa and Digitalise Youth projects, led by the Digital Democracy Initiative.

Have you spotted an error in this article and would like to request a correction, or have you come across a claim that we should investigate? Please send us an email via editor@claritydesk.org or click here to WhatsApp us via +211 928 606 958.

About The ClarityDesk

The ClarityDesk is a media integrity project based in South Sudan dedicated to promoting truth, transparency, and accountability. Working at the intersection of fact-checking, solutions and data journalism, we verify claims, debunk misinformation, and equip the public with tools to critically evaluate information. Our work is guided by accuracy, independence, and the public interest.