March 30, 2023
Kenya: Kenyans, Beware of Fake Facebook Account Impersonating Acting Deputy Inspector General of Police Abdalla Komesha
IN SHORT: It didn't take long for someone to impersonate the Kenya Police Service's new deputy inspector general. This Facebook page in Abdalla Komesha's name is fake. Read more »
March 29, 2023
Kenya: No, Kenya's Tax Authority Has Not Increased Taxes On Popular Second-Hand Clothing in 2023
IN SHORT: Claims that the Kenya Revenue Authority has increased levies on used clothing recently flooded social media. But the authority says this is incorrect and the levies have… Read more »
March 15, 2023
Kenya: Scam Alert! Ignore Bogus 'Jobs and Internships' Ad Allegedly From Kenya's Bamburi Cement
IN SHORT: As a large industrial manufacturer in Kenya, one could expect Bamburi Cement to be hiring. But these jobs advertised online are not real. Read more »
Kenya: No Evidence Viral Photo Shows Egg Business Destroyed By Supporters of Kenyan Opposition Leader
IN SHORT: Soon after Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga suggested he would call for a boycott of certain products and services, to protest president William Ruto's government, a… Read more »
March 09, 2023
South Africa: No, This Photo Doesn't Show a Crumbling Bridge Support in 2023 South Africa - It's From an Earthquake in Japan in 2004
IN SHORT: South Africans and Ugandans on social media were quick to claim a photo showing a damaged concrete pillar was down to vandalism. But this isn't true - the photo shows a… Read more »
March 07, 2023
Kenya: No Evidence That Taking Any Medication 'Including Panadol' Before an HIV Test Will Mask a Positive Status
IN SHORT: A viral TikTok video claims that people with HIV can hide their status by taking medication, even painkillers like paracetamol, before an HIV test. This claim is false,… Read more »
March 03, 2023
Kenya: Dividends Earned From Savings and Credit Co-Operatives in Kenya Will Still Be Taxed At 5 Percent, Not 15 Percent As Social Media Claims
IN SHORT: The Kenyan government is ramping up its tax collection efforts, but rumours that Sacco dividends will be taxed 15%, up from 5%, are not true. Read more »
February 28, 2023
Kenya: Video of High School Students Being Bullied Not From Kenya, but Zimbabwe
IN SHORT: A video and photos circulating on social media claims to show two high school boys being bullied by fellow students in Kenya. However, the incident took place in… Read more »
March 01, 2023
Kenya: A Third of Kenya's Budget Stolen? We Checked Former Senator's Claim About Much-Travelled Corruption Statistic
Have Kenyan government officials been claiming for more than 20 years that a third of the country's budget is lost to corruption? And does Kenya collect more revenue than Uganda,… Read more »
February 28, 2023
Kenya: Thousands of Vacancies in Kenya's Forest Service? Yes, but Fee-for-Jobs Ad Is a Scam
IN SHORT: The Kenya Forest Service is recruiting, but you do not have to pay to apply. Disregard any social media ads asking you to do this. Read more »
Kenya: Prayers for Ksh1,000? Beware of Facebook Page Impersonating Kenyan Church
IN SHORT: Kenyan preacher Ezekiel Odero has been impersonated on a number of Facebook pages, claiming to represent him and his church and asking for donations in return for… Read more »
February 27, 2023
Kenya: No, Claims That Kenya's Chief Justice Martha Koome Involved in Accident False
IN SHORT: False information about the country's top judge continues to be shared on social media, despite clear evidence to the contrary. Read more »
February 23, 2023
Kenya: Photos of Vehicle and Weapons Snapped in 2018, Not During 2023 Security Operation in Kenya's North Rift
IN SHORT: Kenya's government is battling banditry in the North Rift region, where it has recently launched a new police and military operation. But photos circulating with the… Read more »
Kenya: No, Viral Photos Don't Show Antelope Shoes Worn By Bandits in Kenya
IN SHORT: A recent flare-up of violent banditry in Kenya's northern Rift Valley region, and the security forces' response, has prompted several false claims on social media. One is… Read more »
February 21, 2023
Kenya: No, Human Rights Watch Didn't Release Statement Linking Waithera Death to Fraud Case Against Former CEO of Kenya's Public Medical Insurer
IN SHORT: Human Rights Watch didn't release a statement saying the bizarre and tragic killing of National Hospital Insurance Fund staffer Lilian Waithera was because she was a… Read more »
February 20, 2023
Kenya: Ignore Scam Facebook Account Impersonating Kenyan President and First Lady
IN SHORT: The page combines the (misspelled) names of Kenyan president William Ruto and his wife Rachel Ruto. And it offers a fantastic prize of KSh27,000 for doing very little -… Read more »
February 17, 2023
Kenya: Kenya's 'Ksh500 Billion Government Borrowing' Furore - What the Data Showed
In January 2023, Kenya's most widely read newspaper corrected a story attributing an eye-catching borrowing spree to the country's new government. Read more »
Kenya: Beware of Scam Facebook Page Offering to Boost Your Fuliza Overdraft Limit
The Facebook page Maria Citizen Yasmeen is promising Kenyans it can boost the borrowing limit for a popular overdraft service to KSh100,000 in just two minutes. Read more »
Kenya: Beware of Another Facebook Page Impersonating Kenyan Church
IN SHORT: Popular Kenyan preacher Ezekiel Odero and his New Life Prayer church are frequent victims of impersonation online. This Facebook page offering prayers in return for money… Read more »
Kenya: No, Kenyan President's Daughter Not Giving Away Motorbikes - Facebook Page Fake
IN SHORT: A Facebook page using the name and photos of Charlene Ruto offers free and low-cost motorbikes - a popular form of transport in Kenya - and jobs in Dubai. But it's run by… Read more »
Uganda: No, Image of Ugandan Opposition Leader Bobi Wine in Front of Gay Rights Banner Has Been Doctored
IN SHORT: Gay rights are controversial in Uganda, where homosexuality is outlawed. An image that seems to show a popular opposition leader in the country supporting LGBTQI rights… Read more »
February 10, 2023
Uganda: No, Uganda's Exams Board Hasn't 'Lost' Students' Crucial Results to Hackers - Tweet Fake
IN SHORT: The Twitter post could have students breaking out in a sweat. But the Uganda National Examinations Board didn't announce that its systems had been hacked. Mercifully, the… Read more »
Kenya: No, Kenya's Family Bank Not Offering Soft Loans On Whatsapp
IN SHORT: The loan terms are attractive. But the offer isn't real - and it's probably a scam. Read more »
Uganda: Cash Valentine's Gifts Risk Prison in Uganda? No, Warning Fake
IN SHORT: Ugandans who give money to their beloveds on Valentine's Day won't land up in prison. The "public notice" isn't from the Bank of Uganda. Read more »
Kenya: Kenyan Actor Ogana Can Boost Your Fuliza Loan Limit? No, Facebook Page a Scam
IN SHORT: Brian Ogana, the star of the popular Kenyan TV drama Maria, has hundreds of thousands of Facebook followers. He has no reason to run another Facebook page offering dodgy… Read more »