Tag Archive for: #FactCheck

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: 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.

FALSE: Video not of Raila Odinga saying he’ll take President Ruto back to the ICC

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The Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition leader does not mention ICC anywhere in the video.

Writer: PesaCheck

A video shared on Facebook with text claiming that former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said he will take President William Ruto back to the International Criminal Court (ICC) is FALSE.

Shared on 21 November 2022, the recording claims that Odinga said Ruto stole his votes, and as such he will return him to The Hague-based court.

“Raila anasema atarudisha Ruto ICC kwa kuiba kura zake [Raila says he will take Ruto back to the ICC for stealing his votes],” the text accompanying the video reads.

Ruto was among six Kenyans prosecuted at the ICC following the December 2007 general election violence in which over 1,000 people died. He and five others were accused of committing crimes against humanity.

The president’s case was, however, thrown out in April 2016, for lack of sufficient evidence.

Did Odinga say he will take Ruto back to the ICC? We reviewed the entire video and established that the text accompanying it is clickbait.

In the address, the opposition leader tackles the cost of living, accusing the president of failing to fulfil his campaign promises of reducing the cost of fuel and maize flour.

Odinga, whose Orange Democratic Movement party is a member of the Azimio coalition, also criticised Ruto for his foreign trips that cost millions of taxpayers’ money “yet Kenyans are suffering”.

The opposition leader also weighed in on the importation of genetically modified foods, stating that Ruto should not have lifted the ban imposed during the late Mwai Kibaki’s presidency.

We did a keyword search on YouTube to establish whether there is any recent video of Odinga addressing the ICC issue, but the results were negative.

PesaCheck has looked into a video shared on Facebook with the text claiming that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said he will take President William Ruto back to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague 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 HEADLINE: DP Rigathi Gachagua does not say in the video that Raila Odinga will be arrested

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In the video, the DP takes a swipe at Odinga for his handshake with former President Uhuru Kenyatta in March 2018.

A video shared on Facebook claiming to show Kenyan Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua saying they will arrest former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has a FALSE HEADLINE.

The video, which was shared online on 5 November 2022, is accompanied by a text claiming Gachagua said they’ll arrest Odinga and send him to Kamiti (Maximum Prison) so that he can “respect” President William Ruto’s administration.

“Tutashika huyu Raila Odinga tufungie yeye Kamiti second time ndo ajue Ruto ndo rais na ndi atuheshimu. [We’ll arrest Raila Odinga and jail him at Kamiti for the second time so that he knows Ruto is the president and respects us],” the text reads.

The video was taken when the second-in-command visited Kajiado County to oversee the distribution of relief food in the area.

We reviewed the entire video and established that the deputy president does not say anything about arresting Odinga anywhere in the footage.

In the clip, the DP takes a swipe at Odinga for his handshake with former President Uhuru Kenyatta in March 2018. Gachagua blamed the economic challenges facing the country on the handshake.

“Wewe mzee wa [You man of ] opposition, you were a co-president to Uhuru Kenyatta. All those things you are telling us to do, you had five years with Uhuru Kenyatta to do those things and did not do them,” the DP said.

The handshake, according to Gachagua, weakened the opposition and gave the Kenyatta government powers to do whatever it wanted without being checked.

We performed a keyword search on YouTube and found a video of the DP’s full address and established that at no point does he make any remarks about arresting the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya leader.

PesaCheck has examined a video shared on Facebook claiming to show Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua saying they will arrest former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and finds it to have a FALSE HEADLINE.

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: An alleged fight at the SPLM House over President Kiir’s resignation is false

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After the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) convention on December 6, a Facebook page published a post claiming a fight erupted within the party over President Kiir’s decision to resign, a statement the party’s Secretary General rubbished as fake news. 

Writer: Ghai Aketch

Following the SPLM convention this month, a widely shared claim about a fight at the SPLM House emerged on Facebook. It stated that President Salva Kiir, also SPLM Chairperson, proposed to resign, but the party members were divided over the matter.

SPLM is South Sudan’s ruling party that waged the liberation war against the Khartoum-based regime in the 1980s. And it eventually led the country to independence on July 9, 2011.

But later, after the independence, the mother-party splitted due to power wrangles. Some high-ranking officials in the party opted out to form; SPLM – In Opposition, Real SPLM, FDs, SSUF, and others.

Above is the screenshot of the post alleging fight at the SPLM House

“FIGHTING ERUPTS INSIDE SPLM HOUSE; RIGHT NOW!

We received reports that there is ongoing fighting at the SPLM HOUSE between members of the SPLM after President Salva Kiir has threatened to RESIGN in the next upcoming days.

“You people, I have given you everything. I have allowed you to do as you please but you always bring me shame. I will retire Dr. Riek Machar Teny and I will resign so you can continue to fight yourselves. You will come to look for me because you cannot handle running the country.” Said President Salva Kiir,” the page claims.

But did a fight happen at the SPLM house? The claim was looked at by 211 Check:

However, Peter Lam, the SPLM Secretary General, rubbished the claim when contacted to comment on this alleged fighting within the party.

“All fake news from some people. Thank you for letting me know. They can’t believe that SPLM can come together in unity again.” He told 211 Check, in a written WhatsApp reply.

There is no established and credible media reporting on the aforementioned fight, nor are video footages or images in circulation, as there could always be.

Conclusion:

We conclude that there was no fighting that erupted at the SPLM House. The party’s Secretary General dismissed the report as false. Additionally, according to the party official, President Kiir never threatened his party members to resign as the President of South Sudan. 

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