Death of Kenyan Fidel Castro confuses Twitter users

HAVANA, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- The #RIPFidel hashtag spread on Twitter after the death of Fidel Castro Odinga on January 4, but many mistook it for representing the death of the Cuban leader.

Odinga was the son of the former prime minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga, which led to many high-profile condolences.

It is with profound sorrow that my wife Ida and I announce the untimely passing of our eldest son, Fidel Castro Odinga.

— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) January 4, 2015

The 88-year-old former leader of Cuba last appeared in public on Jan. 8, 2014 at an art exhibition in Havana. The last time he was officially photographed was in August of last year. There have been no reports of his death, though it is well known he has been in poor health for years.

News websites like Diario de Cuba confused by the rumors of the former Cuban leader's death reported on the story and further spread the misinformation.

While Castro is no longer the leader of Cuba, having stepped down in 2006 so his brother could take control, he is still somewhat regularly active in commenting on international events. In August of 2014, Castro wrote an editorial for a Cuban newspaper titled "Palestinian Holocaust in Gaza" about Israel's attacks on the Gaza strip.

#RIPfidel DEMORO![ RT @InfoVzlaNet: URGENTE: Extraoficialmente Dictador Fidel Castro fallece http://t.co/fsB0WYVGkN pic.twitter.com/MXVfTrP0hT

— Congresso P㋡dre (@CongressoPodre) December 7, 2014