Rumours sweep Twitter that Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro has died

• Twitter is abuzz with rumours former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has died
• But a Nairobi personality also named Fidel Castro died only days ago
• Son of Nairobi's opposition leader, Fidel Castro Odinga, 41, found dead
• Confusion over the identity of the dead person may have sparked rumours
• Incorrect claims that Cuba's former leader have been made several times
• There has been no official confirmation yet that the 88-year-old has died
• But the Cuban government has called press conference, local media claim
• It's believed ally and Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is in Havana

By Corey Charlton and Alasdair Baverstock for MailOnline

Published: 06:57 EST, 9 January 2015 | Updated: 07:15 EST, 9 January 2015

Twitter is abuzz with rumours that Cuba's former communist leader Fidel Castro has died, although their timing is suspiciously close to the death of another high-profile person who shares his name.

While the reports that Cuba's 88-year-old former leader has died could be true, there has been no official confirmation and his death has been mistakenly claimed on social media many times in the past.

Also casting doubt on today's rumours is the possibility it has been confused with the recent death of the son of Nairobi's opposition leader, named Fidel Castro Odinga, 41, who died only days ago.

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, pictured during a speech in 2003. Twitter is abuzz with rumours he has died, but it remains to be seen if they are correct

However, speculation is rife after it was reported the Cuban Government had called for a press conference with the international press today, according to Venezuelan media. Venezuela and Cuba have fostered a close relationship for decades.

The press conference, reported by the Diario de Cuba, had no time or subject specified.

The article claimed that when reporters spoke to the Cuban press office that they 'could not give information on the time or subject of the press conference', and that 'there was no other way of finding out as the person they spoke to was the only person in the press office at the time'.

It has also been claimed Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has made an unplanned and little publicized rush to Havana, which suggested Castro's death could be announced.

Castro, who passed on Cuba's leadership to his brother Raul in 2008, was announced Prime Minister of Cuba after overthrowing the government in 1959 and under his rule turned it into a one-party state.

Fidel Castro, dressed his famous green military uniform, pictured during a public meeting in Havana in 1990

Fidel Castro smokes a cigar during a news conference in Havana in 1961 - two years after he overthrew the Batista government

Cuba's Fidel Castro (pictured left in 1976 and right in 1978) ushered in a long period of communism to the tiny island in what developed into a highly antagonistic relationship with the U.S.

He had lived in increasing seclusion from the outside world ever since he retired as Cuba's leader amid rumors of poor health.

It is understood he was recently being cared for by his wife and by a team of nurses.

Those who had seen him in his extremely rare public appearances in recent years claimed he was very, very frail even if he appeared to be lucid. Once an enthusiastic food connoisseur, he long since stopped visiting Havana restaurants.

Today his former Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Perez Silva told various outlets: 'Fidel is waiting for the right moment, because he is a great prophet who knows the right moment to say what needs to be said.'