Fact-check: There was no ‘high  tension’ in Melut County  to remove the DPOC Vice President

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The  claim of a high tension in Melut County circulating online over angry community members demanding for removal of the Dar Petroleum Operating Company (DPOC) Vice President for alleged embezzlement of money meant for the flood-affected population is false. 

Writer: Ghai Aketch   

On January 10, a social media page published a piece of information alleging unrest in the Upper Nile county of Melut because the DPOC Vice President was accused of misappropriating $3.5m US dollars intended to assist the community.

DAR Petroleum Operating Company Limited (DPOC) is a confederation of oil exploration and production companies in South Sudan composed of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Petronas of Malaysia, Nilepet, SINOPEC, and Tri-Ocean Energy.

“Tension is very high in the Melut community as a budget worth 3.5 m USD raised by Dar Petroleum Operating company to tackle the current devastating flood at Melut and Maban counties is being divided between Ayuel Akoc; DPOC VP, Deng Kuec, CD manager, and a Darfurian broker known as Mohamed,” the post partly reads.

The screenshot of the post claiming Melut Community protest

The Facebook page alleged that the community is asking the Ministry of Petroleum and Nilepet–South Sudan’snational  oil operating company–to immediately remove Ayuel Akoc and Deng Kuec from their positions at the DPOC.

But when contacted for comments by 211 Check, the Undersecretary  in the Petroleum Ministry, Mr. Mayen Wol said the ministry has not received any letter calling for Ayuel Akoc’s removal.

“I did not see the request of the community yet, and I am still waiting for such a request if any; to tell us  where the money of the community was kept, who released it to Ayuel, how much was released and why should the money of the community be released to staff of DPOC rather than designated representative of the community?” Wol said. 

The money was promised by the DPOC to be given to the flood-affected residents in the form of food and non-food items this month, as the post claims. 

Moreover, the Community Development Committee representative Hon. Santino Nuan, who spoke to 211 Check on January 12, said there was no community protest. But there is an ‘opaque handling of the money’ meant to assist the community within the DPOC. 

“There is no tension of any kind propagated by the community members, and if there is any protest, our position paper as the committee must first be prepared,” Santino told 211 Check.   

DPOC’s policy of not talking to the media made it impossible for us to independently verify the same information.

Melut is a county in South Sudan located in Upper Nile State. It has the largest oil reserves for South Sudan’s oil extraction. However, for almost two years experienced devastating floods that displaced thousands of residents. Thus a need for constant humanitarian intervention.

Conclusion

The information alleging high tension in Melut County is false. The Community Development Committee representative there said he has no knowledge of the said protest. 

Additionally, the Petroleum Ministry tagged to have received complaints said it is not aware of that information requesting the ministry to remove the DPOC vice president. 

This fact-check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.  

Fact-check: Is TikTok offering users sixty days 30 GB free data for its 6th Anniversary? No, it is false.

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TikTok has not announced an offer to its users for two months of free 30 GB data to commemorate its sixth anniversary; the link that is circulating is malicious and does not represent Tik Tok.

Writer Beatrice Amude Paulino

A WhatsApp message being circulated in private chats and groups claiming that TikTok is offering 30GB free to its online customers for a period of 60 days is false.

“Congratulations to all TikTokers; you can now enjoy free 30GB TikTok data to stream for two months (60 days). Click below to check if you are eligible to get the offer,” the claim reads n part.

A screenshot of a WhatsApp message.

The claim did not give any specific way of selecting who would get the free offer. No network provider or news organization within the country has notified the public about this offer. 

The below website claiming the offer is flagged as a phishing site, as indicated by Google Safe Browsing.

‘’The site you are trying to visit has been identified as a forgery, intended to trick you into disclosing financial, personal or other sensitive information.’’

Other sites, including firefox also block access to the page because it a phishing site.

A screenshot of a website that has been censored by Google

What is Tik Tok?

TikTok is a social media app that allows users to create, share and post short videos on any topic of their choice, and it is mainly mobile-based.

It was launched as Douyin by ByteDance in Beijing, China in September 2016, originally under the name A.me. It will turn six years in September 2022.

TikTok has not made any announcement on its official channels about any free data for its sixth anniversary as at the time of this publication.

The tiktok domain was registered on 21 July 1996

The domain for the phishing site was registered on 11 December 2022, just last year

Conclusion:

The claim that Tik Tok is giving away 30 GB of free data to celebrate its six years in service has been proven false by 211 Check. The links going around are not from Tik Tok and are malicious.


This fact check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.

Fact-check: Have Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) increased the cost of tomato seeds?

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No, GMO seeds are cheap, not as expensive as claimed in the video; the video also has other false and misleading information.

Writer: Jibi Moses

 A TikTok video with bold heading PENEUL RUTENDO PART 2. It is going viral. It further adds a question. What does Rutendo mean when he says South Africa has no Seeds? The video was shot in a studio setting whereby two men were in a studio (radio or television) discussing the impact of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their effect on mainly the price and quality of seeds in the world and South Africa in particular.

The guest in the studio started by explaining how in a previous talk show, he had talked about how South Africa doesn’t have seeds anymore. He explained that the country is currently getting its food from genetically modified seeds. Most of these seeds would not reproduce, and even if they would reproduce, they would slowly reduce the quality and quantity of the seeds, and this is because they are engineered through a technology called Genetic use restriction.

He further claimed that the seeds’ pollen grains could cross-pollinate with the organic plant, reducing their reproduction capacity. In the long run, organic seeds will disappear, and in the end, people will have to buy only hybrid seeds. They further claim that a  European company, Limagrain, which has a Seedco, has killed all organic seeds in Europe. Currently, there are no organic tomato seeds in Europe rather than Hybrid, which go for between $60,000 and $ 400,000 per kilo. This, he said, is more than a kilogram of gold. Therefore, if nothing is done, there will soon be no organic seeds in South Africa, and these companies may demand a kilo of gold or seeds. Finally, he urged the local farmers to support farmers selling organic seeds, not Genetically modified ones.

What are GMOs?

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as defined and explained by the Food and Drug Authority, the Internet is also awash with information defining and explaining GMOs; some of these sites are here, here, and here. 

Genetic modification occurs when the DNA of one living thing is added to the DNA of another so that a desirable trait becomes part of the new, modified organism. These new modifications can alter or introduce particular traits in the organism. 

Benefits of Genetically Modified Organisms:

Much as there are many controversial stories and myths about genetically engineered crops, there are enough benefits for humans and the environment. 211 check brings some of the sites which have done enough studies about them as here, here, here and here. However, we can not rule out the disadvantages or dangers of the use and consumption of GMOs, as experts explain in these links: 1, and 2. These articles and more may try to explain the dangers of GMOs; however, most are assumptions based on what has happened to people or organisms that have consumed GMO products. 

Genetic Use Restriction Technology: 

In the video, they claim that manufacturers of GMO seeds use this kind of technology, whereby the seeds are controlled from reproducing after the first planting. 

They further explain the pollen grains of these seeds can move across the country as far as 600 kilometers radius and pollinate the organic crops, transferring the technology to the organic crops – Genetic Use Restriction Technology. 

Some popular myths about GMOs:

There are a lot of myths about GMOs, and here are some links with detailed explanations of those popular myths as 1, 2,  3, 4, 5. 

Cost of tomato seeds in Europe:

In the video, they explained how GMOs have led to the extinction of natural seeds in Europe. This, according to them, is because of Genetic Use Restriction Technology, and therefore, as a result, has led to a rise in the price of tomato seeds. They claim tomato seeds cost between $60,000 and $400,000 per kilo, equivalent to or more than a kilogram of gold. They said if South Africans don’t change, GMO companies will soon begin to charge that same amount or even ask for pure gold in exchange for tomato seeds. However, when one searches the internet, different sites give detailed prices of different tomato species, which are way cheaper than what is claimed.These are as mentioned here  1, and 2 .

Conclusion:

The investigation done by 211 Check on the video about the claims shows that much as there are facts in some of these claims, Most of them are false and misleading. The point of the price and intention of the European companies isn’t to bring organic seeds to extinction and therefore raise the price of seeds in South Africa, as claimed in the video clip, but to provide high-quality and cheap seeds. The intention of these gentlemen, as heard in the last statements, is to market their own local seeds, which he says he sells, but the local farmers do not want to buy from him.

This fact-check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.   

PARTLY FALSE: Post does not show requirements for Hustler Fund loans

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The correct requirements are listed in the Financial Inclusion Fund Regulation 2022 draft by the Treasury.

Writer: PesaCheck

A Facebook post listing the requirements for the Hustler Fund programme by the Kenyan government is PARTLY FALSE.

The requirements in the claim are listed as follows:

  1. Form a Youth or women group
  2. Draft a Business Proposal
  3. Produce Good Conduct Certificate
  4. Share Residential Address
  5. Produce signatures from 4 Guarantors, two must be your relatives
  6. Sign a non disclosure agreement to serve jail term for defrauding the government if you fail to repay within 6 months
  7. Open Bank account with National Bank or KCB
  8. Produce KRA Pin
  9. Above 18 years old
  10. Holder of Kenyan ID
  11. Account must be active for at least 6 months statement
  12. Individual loans will also be available.

According to the National Treasury Financial Inclusion Fund Regulation 2022 draft, the requirements for individual applicants include being 18 years of age and above and being a holder of a national identification card (ID).

Micro, small and medium enterprises, saccos and any other associations will be required to have all their members to be aged above 18 years in age and duly registered by the relevant government institution to qualify for the loans.

Any other eligibility criteria will be determined by an advisory board comprising a non-executive chairperson appointed by the President, who is expected to oversee the operations of the fund.

Co-operative and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui, clarified that the government’s Hustler Fund programme will not require any official registration.

“We urge members of the public to disregard all forms of communications inviting them to  register for funds on a website or via a phone number,” Chelugui said.

He also dismissed as untrue claims that Hustler Fund defaulters will be heavily fined.

“There is no such thing. The penalties in the regulations target fund officials who may embezzle or misappropriate the funds,” he added.

Chelugui further explained that interested individuals will only require their phones to access the loans.

“Unlike any financial products that require a lot of paperwork, guarantors or collaterals among other hurdles, borrowers will face no such roadblocks. No registration is required and all that will be required is to dial a code. There will be no intermediaries, it will just be the hustler and his or her phone,” he said.

PesaCheck has looked into a Facebook post listing the requirements for the Hustler Fund programme by the Kenyan government and finds it to be PARTLY FALSE.

This post is part of an ongoing series of PesaCheck fact-checks examining content marked as potential misinformation on Facebook and other social media platforms.

FALSE: Kenya Revenue Authority has not raised the monthly rental income tax to 30%

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According to the KRA website, rental income is charged at a flat rate of 10 per cent of gross monthly rent.

Writer: PesaCheck

A tweet claiming that the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has raised the monthly rental income tax to 30 per cent is FALSE.

The 21 October 2022 tweet reads: “LANDLORDS will now pay 30% rental income tax to this new government. Meaning if a tenant pays rent ksh20,000 per month, Ksh6,000 will go to KRA. Expect landlords to raise your rent hustlers Tighten your belts, freedom is here.”

The claim also appears on Facebook here and here.

The tweet and the Facebook posts come in the wake of KRA’s announcement that it would begin collecting data on rental properties in Nairobi County and its metropolis. The exercise, which started on 19 October 2022, is aimed at expanding the agency’s tax base.

However, there is no mention of any recent increase in the monthly rental income tax. Residential rental income, according to the KRA website, is charged at a flat rate of 10 per cent of the gross rent received per month, with the exception of landlords earning more than KSh15 million per annum. This was introduced by the Finance Act 2015 and was effected on 1 January 2016.

PesaCheck has looked into a tweet claiming that the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has raised the monthly rental income tax to 30 per cent and found it to be FALSE.

This post is part of an ongoing series of PesaCheck fact-checks examining content marked as potential misinformation on Facebook and other social media platforms.

Fact-check: No, NRA has not advertised any job vacancy for 2023

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In a statement, the National Revenue Authority (NRA) stated that the document circulating on social media is fake and not a valid NRA document. It goes on to say that it only advertises open positions in newspapers and on its official social media platforms.

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A document purporting to call for job recruitment in 2023 of more than ten positions and several open posts by the National Revenue Authority is a scam.  

The document which listed fourteen positions of different categories lacks the date of its official release to the public, signature of the authorized person, and the institutional stamp which automatically qualifies it to be from a fraudster.

The screenshot of the fake document

But, did the National Revenue Authority (NRA) put up that job advertisement?

The National Revenue Authority on its official Facebook page on the 5th of January, 2023 debunked the document saying it was not from its institution; adding it only uses mainstream media like newspaper, and its official social media accounts to reach out to the public as well as advertise any vacancy.

“The National Revenue Authority would like to inform the general public that the document circulating on social media is fake and not a valid document of NRA”, reads part of the NRA Facebook page.

“The National Revenue Authority will use newspapers and its official social media platforms to communicate with the public and advertise vacant positions in the NRA,” the post added.  

The screenshot of the NRA Facebook post

Conclusion

The document is fake and designed by scammers to lure people in giving their personal information like contacts, emails, and other credentials.

This fact-check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.  

Fact-check: SSPDF troops en route to DRC have not camped in Yei over reduction of upkeep money

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Barely a month after the South Sudan President dispatched  the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF)  enroute to the Democratic Republic of Congo on December 28, 2022, in Juba, information alleging their return to South Sudan ensued. However, the SSPDF spokesperson dismissed the claims of the troops’ return as false.

Writer: Ghai Aketch

South Sudan, in December 2022, said it would send SSPDF troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the regional force battalion to protect civilians there. The DRC government, for decades, has been fighting the M23 group. The military confrontation there has caused instability the East Africa Community deems necessary to quell. 

However, a piece of information widely shared on Facebook on January 8, 2022, alleged that the troops have returned to South Sudan, and camped in Yei County, southwest of the capital. The Facebook page claimed that their return was due to corruption leading to a reduction of their upkeep money from $1,000 to $500 US dollars.

“#Breaking_News..!!

SSPDF return back from DRC over money scandal

JUBA – SSPDF contingent that was heading to DRC Congo for mutinying on the border have returned and established a defensive position in Yei waiting for anyone who will try to attack them. Source told Phow Radio FM.” The post claimed. 

“Each soldier is supposed to receive 1,000 USD as pocket money but the commander gave each soldier only 500 USD and as a result,  the force mutinied and returned to Yei where we surrounded ourselves with all the military equipment equipped for the mission,” the post quoted a source allegedly an army officer, as speaking. 

Screenshot of the post claiming return of the SSPDF troops to South Sudan

However, the SSPDF spokesperson General Lul Ruai Koang, confirmed to 211 Check on January 9 that the information circulating is false because the SSPDF forces are not yet in the DRC territory.

“Inaccurate information. They even didn’t enter Congo. They are currently processing their travel documents in Mundri East County, Western Equatoria State. Travel arrangements will start after securing their travel documents. They have not even received a penny, leave alone rejecting $ 500 USD.” Gen. Lul said in a Whatsapp reply.

After the logistical arrangements, the South Sudan contingents will join forces from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda as EAC regional forces to work on restoring political stability in the eastern part of the DRC according to the agreement. 

Conclusion

The return of the SSPDF troops to South Sudan is false. The SSPDF spokesperson Gen. Lul  Ruai confirmed that the peace-keeping force has not yet reached the DRC territory but is still in the South Sudan Western Equatoria State, preparing to enter after visa processing. 

This fact-check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.  

Fact-check: No, WHO is not considering failure to find a sexual partner as a disability

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Reports that the definition is going to change or that people who can’t find a partner will soon be considered disabled are not true.

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A claim attributed to a report from WHO (World Health Organization) that failure to find a sexual partner is now categorized as a disability is false.

The report appeared to warn people to consider having sex or being labelled as disabled. The claim in the screenshot is being circulated on WhatsApp.

“Failure to find a sexual partner [is] now a disability,” reads the image document circulating on social media platforms. 

“It is either you have sex or you are considered disabled,” it added. 

The screenshot image of the document claim

Has the World Health Organisation (WHO) said anything of that sort?

The document is not genuine and there is no official release of a report by the World Health Organization labeling failure to find a sexual partner as a disability. However, according to WHO’s published statement in 2016 on sexual and reproductive health, its definition of infertility has not changed.

WHO as of 2020 defined infertility as “a disease of the male or female reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.”

Besides, the claim was fact-checked by Reuters news agency in 2021 and was found to be false, and a correspondent tweet by WHO in 2016 affirmed that the definition of infertility was not changed. 

AFP also fact-checked the claim in 2019 where it was found to be false. However, it cited the WHO representative in Kenya that time Rudi Eggers, who said the idea was sourced from WHO outdated policy document released in 2011 and was no longer existing online.

Conclusion

The WHO has not considered failure to have a sexual partner as a disability and there is no current policy consideration on labeling it as such.

This fact-check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.  

FALSE: This photo used to show construction of Likoni bypass is not from Kenya

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The photo is of the Interstate Highway in the United States.

Writer: PesaCheck

A photo shared on Facebook with text praising former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta for the construction of the Likoni bypass in Mombasa is FALSE.

The photo, which was shared on 18 November 2022, is accompanied by the write-up implying that the road was one of the projects implemented by the former president’s administration.

“UHURU amefanya kazi kweli,hongera sana uhuru Wale ambao hamjapitia likoni bypass ndio hiyo sasa. (UHURU has really worked, congratulations Uhuru. For those of you who haven’t used Likoni bypass, this is it now),” the text reads.

But does the photo show the Likoni bypass? We checked and a reverse image search established that the image is of the Interstate Highway in the United States of America (USA).

The photo has been used by publications from as early as 2002. An article by boston.com credited the photo to the Associated Press (AP).

We did a keyword search on Google for the Likoni bypass and found out that it is part of the larger Dongo Kundu bypass, premised on decongesting the Likoni ferry channel.

The Dongo Kundu bypass is a three-phase project started in March 2020 while Kenyatta was president. Its projected completion date is March 2024.

PesaCheck has examined a photo shared on Facebook with text praising former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta for the construction of the Likoni bypass and finds it to be FALSE.

This post is part of an ongoing series of PesaCheck fact-checks examining content marked as potential misinformation on Facebook and other social media platforms.

FALSE: Britain’s new Prime Minister is not from the Luo tribe of Kenya

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Rishi Sunak’s parents are both Hindu

Writer: PesaCheck

A tweet claiming that new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is from the Luo tribe of Kenya is FALSE.

The tweet reads: “Now Britain has elected a Luo Prime Minister, Just like US did. Next ni sisi from Mt Kenya [Next is we from Mt Kenya].”

On Monday, 24 October 2022, Sunak won the race, becoming the third United Kingdom Prime Minister in 2022, following the resignation of Liz Truss, who had replaced Boris Johnson in September.

Sunak had one competitor — House of Commons leader and former Defence minister Penny Mordaunt — who got 30 votes against the new premier’s 150.

While Sunak’s father was born in Kenya, he is not from the Luo tribe. The roots of the new British PM are in Punjab, India, from where his grandparents migrated to Kenya and Tanzania.

Sunak, a Hindu and former British Chancellor of the Exchequer, was born in 1980 in the port city of Southampton, United Kingdom. His father, Yashvir Sunak, was born in Kenya while his mother, Usha Sunak, was born in Tanzania. The parents were married in Southampton, where they had migrated in the 1960s.

PesaCheck has looked into a tweet claiming that Britain’s new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is from the Luo tribe of Kenya and finds it to be FALSE.

This post is part of an ongoing series of PesaCheck fact-checks examining content marked as potential misinformation on Facebook and other social media platforms.