February 27, 2023
Nigeria: No, PDP Candidate Abubakar Didn't Withdraw From Nigeria's Presidential Race
IN SHORT: Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party was one of the four frontrunners in the presidential elections. If he had dropped out on the day of the vote it would have… Read more »
Nigeria: Beware Clickbait Posts Offering N10,000 From Nigeria Presidential Candidate Bola Tinubu's Campaign
IN SHORT: If you vote for Nigeria's ruling party candidate, N10,000 awaits you, say posts on Facebook disguised as warnings against vote-buying. Don't click on them. Read more »
Nigeria: Beware Twitter Accounts Impersonating Nigeria's Labour Party Vice Presidential Candidate
It's been two days since Nigeria's 2023 presidential election, and the disinformation keeps coming. . Read more »
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 24, 2023
Nigeria: No, Nigeria's Central Bank Hasn't Closed Three Digital Banks Amid Cash Crisis
IN SHORT: A shortage of cash has left Nigerians scrambling for alternatives. But the claim that some digital banks are being shut down is false. Read more »
Nigeria: Nigeria's Central Bank to Allow All Old Banknotes to Circulate Until May? No, Press Release Fake
IN SHORT: As Nigeria struggles with a shortage of cash after a swap of old banknotes with new, redesigned currency, a press release seemingly from the central bank says the… Read more »
February 23, 2023
Nigeria: Federal Legislator Misleads About the Law and Nigerian Politician's Campaign Cash
The house of representatives majority leader Alhassan Doguwa recently claimed the law allowed him N70 million - in cash - for election expenses. We checked this and three other… Read more »
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 22, 2023
Nigeria: How Old - or Young - Are the Candidates? Where Are the Women?
Nigeria's electoral commission recently released data on the 2023 general election candidates. We took a closer look - and found some interesting facts voters should know. 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
Nigeria: Examining Popular Website Legit.Ng's Claims About MTN Nigeria's 'Historic' N2 Trillion Revenue
A widely read Nigerian news site has celebrated telecoms giant MTN's recent earnings. Read more »
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 »
Africa: Yes, Chinese Scientist Tu Youyou Did Win Nobel Prize in 2015 for Discovery of Antimalarial and Has Stayed Mostly Out of the Limelight
IN SHORT: It's not surprising that certain claims go viral online, like the one that a cure for a dangerous disease was discovered by an anonymous Chinese woman who wasn't even a… 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
February 15, 2023
Nigeria: No Evidence Presidential Candidate Obi Bribed Major Churches in Return for Votes
IN SHORT: Peter Obi is the only Christian candidate among the four frontrunners in the race for the presidency of Nigeria, a country often riven by its Muslim-Christian divide.… Read more »
February 10, 2023
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 »
Africa: No Evidence That DNA From Semen Stays in Woman's Body 'Forever'
IN SHORT: If you have unprotected sex with a man, does the DNA from his semen stay in your body "forever"? No, of course not. There's no evidence for this… Read more »
Kenya: Beware Facebook Page Impersonating Former Kenyan President Kenyatta
IN SHORT: The page uses Uhuru Kenyatta's name and photos, and its posts attract thousands of responses. But it's run by an imposter. Read more »
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 »
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 »