Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is once again the butt of online jokes after confidently uttering a false statement while delivering a speech during an official trip to Colombia.

In his address, Gachagua invited Colombian business leaders to visit and invest in Kenya where they will not only enjoy Kenyans' hospitality but also have the rare experience of encountering wild animals such as tigers.

"Kenya is a very warm country, we are very welcoming people we are very hospitable and we invite Colombian business people to come and invest in Kenya," said Gachagua.

He went on, "Again, as you come to invest in Kenya, we have many facilities for tourism. We have rare species of wildlife; the elephant, rhino, buffalo and the tiger."

Factually, tigers are not native to Kenya or even Africa but are primarily found in Asian countries.

Whether it was just a goof or indeed Kenya's deputy president is not aware that there are no tigers in the country is anyone's guess.

However, DP Gachagua's statement has triggered online reactions, leaving many with tears in the eyes.

"While delivering a speech in Columbia, Mr Gachagua lied to the audience that we have tigers in Kenya. Fact is that tigers have never historically lived on the African continent. We have indeed exported lies to the international community," posted Caxstone Kigata on X, formerly Twitter.

''I think it was a slip of the Tongue Counsel. He must have meant Cheetah, said Senator Janet Ong'era.

''Gachagua has a kienyeji dog called Taiga. Be properly guided,'' joked another X user Purple Rain.

''Ni battery za tiger,'' added another X user.