Writer: PesaCheck

A Facebook post with a TikTok video purportedly of a hospitality robot made by the Federal University Oye-Ekiti in Nigeria is FALSE.

The post reads, “This is Nigeria. This Robot was designed and constructed by the Department of Mechatronics, Federal University, Oye- Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. ‘A Robot Serving food in a restaurant’.”

The post adds, “As you can listen to the background discussion. Nigeria is building capacity to catch-up with global technology.”

A search for the TikTok username @house_of_lovedoctor visible in the video in question established that the video was filmed in the United States (US).

The TikTok account shared the post on 26 September 2023 with the caption, “At any point where a customer obstructs ANITA’S operation, she cries for help. Shop located at 4150 Lafayette rd, IN 46254 Indianapolis. AFS Kitchen.”

AFS Kitchen is an African restaurant in Indianapolis, USA.

On 21 September 2023, the creator shared a different post of the robot at the same restaurant with Indianapolis as the tagged location and responded to a comment clarifying it is not in Nigeria but in the USA.

A reverse image search of a screenshot of the robot from the video on Yandex established that it is a product of a US-based company and not manufactured in Nigeria, as alleged.

Images of the robot were featured in an article dated 15 March 2022 titled, “Bear Robotics Raises $81M Series B to Scale Up Mobile Robots in the Hospitality Market.”

Bear Robotics has manufactured two hospitality robots dubbed “Servi” and “Servi Plus”, which have been deployed to various restaurants globally.

There is no news of the said invention from Nigeria’s Federal University Oye-Ekiti from a credible source.

PesaCheck has looked into a Facebook post with a video purportedly of a hospitality robot made by the Federal University Oye-Ekiti in Nigeria 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.

The post FALSE: This video is not of a hospitality robot made by the Federal University Oye-Ekiti in Nigeria appeared first on 211CHECK.

Writer: PesaCheck

This image on Facebook, purportedly of the Cairo Tower in Egypt displaying the Palestine flag, is ALTERED.

The image is accompanied by a text that reads, “Cairo Tower is decorated with the Palestinian flag. Here is Cairo,, here is Palestine.”

The claim was shared amid ongoing armed conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which broke out on 7 October 2023.

A Google search for the keywords “Cairo Tower images” established the image in question was altered.

The original image is available on Wikimedia Commons with the description, “Cairo Tower at Night.”

It was uploaded on 3 February 2010 and is attributed to Ahmed Santos.

A side by side comparison of the altered image and the original one reveals similarities between the two, including the moon’s shape and position. The background colour of the sky and the outline of the trees at the bottom are other similarities.

The original image is also available on the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) website alongside other images of Cairo Tower, and is attributed to Santos.

There are no reports from a credible source of the Cairo Tower displaying the Palestine flag in the wake of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

PesaCheck has looked into an image shared on Facebook purportedly of the Cairo Tower in Egypt displaying the Palestine flag, and finds it to be ALTERED.

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.

The post ALTERED: This image of Cairo Tower in Egypt displaying the Palestine flag is manipulated appeared first on 211CHECK.

Writer: Beatrice Amude Paulino

An image shared on Facebook purporting to show an overpass in South Sudan is false. 

The image was posted on the Ruweng Eye page on September 30, 2023, and shows a road with a few cars along and a flyover, also known as an overpass. Multiple-storey buildings can also be seen in the background. 

The post, which was captioned “Welcome to Juba, South Sudan”, attracted several comments, some with differing opinions, which prompted 211 Check to investigate.

Investigation:

A Google Reverse Image Search shows that this picture is of  Nairobi, Kenya and has been used on various sites before. 

On June 10, 2021, The Standard Media, a news outlet in Kenya, posted a picture of the overpass from a different angle. The image is captioned ‘An aerial view of Nairobi City from Ngara’, and one can see the overpass and the tall building with blue glass windows as in the image under scrutiny.  

211 Check also found a Greyscale edit of the same photo shared on Pinterest and captioned: ‘Globe Cinema Roundabout, Nairobi, Kenya.’

A search for ‘Globe Cinema Roundabout’ on Google Maps brought the exact location of the roundabout, which is Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.   

Other instances where photos of the roundabout have been shared and attributed to Nairobi, Kenya, are here and here, 

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim that there is a flyover bridge in Juba, South Sudan, false. Our investigation shows that the flyover bridge is the Globe Cinema Roundabout in Nairobi, Kenya.  

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s  PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance(AFCA).

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.

The post <strong>Fact-check: Is this overpass in Juba, South Sudan?</strong> appeared first on 211CHECK.

Writer: PesaCheck

This poster on Facebook claiming that the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) is on a recruitment drive is a HOAX.

The National Hospital Insurance Fund changed to National Health Insurance Fund after the amendment of the NHIF Act in 2022.

The advert has the branding of the parastatal and lists more than a dozen job openings which, if filled, will enable the NHIF to implement the country’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) effectively.

Additional information on the poster is that the positions are “on permanent & pensionable basis to help bridge the gaps between health sector and Kenyan citizen (sic).”

The vacancies are for, among others, clinicians, social workers, community health workers, accountants, nurses, surveyors, supply chain managers, laboratory technicians, secretaries, sales and marketing officers, drivers, and ICT officers.

A similar poster with a different application deadline has been shared in this Facebook publication.

Both posters require the job seekers to be holders of a degree, diploma, or certificate, be Kenyan citizens of legal age, and have experience in what is applied for, among other qualifications.

Further, the poster directs applicants to submit their CVs to a provided Gmail-prefixed address, which raises doubts about its authenticity.

Another red flag is that there is no information about the vacancies in either the Careers section of the NHIF website, on its Facebook page, Twitter or Instagram accounts.

At the time of this debunk, the NHIF had listed eight open positions and none of those in the poster is among them.

Besides, the NHIF directs job seekers to submit applications to nhif.or.ke-prefixed addresses and not Gmail.

The national health insurer, through a post on X (formerly Twitter), disowned the recruitment poster and urged the public to disregard it.

PesaCheck has examined a poster claiming that the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) is hiring and found it to be a HOAX.

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.

The post HOAX: This National Health Insurance Fund job advert is a scam appeared first on 211CHECK.

Writer: PesaCheck

This screen grab on Facebook with a message, supposedly from Equity Bank to a customer, is FAKE.

Equity Bank is one of the leading financial service providers in East Africa. In July 2016, the lender was ranked the fastest growing bank in Africa.

The message reads: “Dear costumer if you don’t trust us please withdraw your Kshs. 86.00 you have been checking balance consistently.[sic]”

But is the message authentic?

To begin with, the text has typos. This is among the red flags for social media hoaxes.

On 9 September 2023, the bank released a statement disowning the post.

“This is definitely not a notification from Equity Bank,” the lender said in response to a user on X, formerly known as Twitter.

PesaCheck investigated a screen grab on Facebook with a message, purportedly from Equity Bank to a customer, and found it to be FAKE.

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.

The post FAKE: This screen grab, supposedly of an Equity Bank response to a customer, is fabricated appeared first on 211CHECK.

Writer: Kei Emmanuel Duku

A social media picture posted on Juba Eye and Red Pepper UG that has gone viral on Facebook in South Sudan and Uganda is false. 

In the post on Juba Eye, shared on September 25, 2023, the painted dog in Tiger colours is claimed to belong to a resident in the Jebel area of Juba, South Sudan, and police are already searching for the dog’s owner. 

According to the claim, the alleged owner painted his dog in tiger colours to scare away individuals from coming to his home to ask for the loans he had borrowed. 

The post was shared 73 times, with over 1,000 interactions, over 100 comments, and some over 70 shares by social media users. 

The same picture and claim were used by RED Pepper UG on the same day, claiming that the owner of the painted dog is called Mucunguzi from Kyeggwa, and police are already searching for him for painting his dog in tiger colours. This post gained 286 likes, 43 comments, and 18 shares on this platform.

While the two Facebook posts are satirical, 211 Check looks at the origin of the image in the posts.

Claim Verification:  

According to Tineye’s reverse image search, the picture was taken in New Delhi, India, on December 29, 2019, and the dog’s actual owner is Srikant Gowda, a farmer from Karnataka’s Shivamogga region. 

The publication was done in Urdu, but with the help of Google Translate, it indicated that the dog’s owner decided to paint his dog in tiger colours to scare away monkeys destroying his farmland.

Similar searching was done using Google reverse image search, revealing the same results. 

BestNewsGH.com published the story in December 2019 with the headline: A Desperate farmer paints his dog like a tiger to scare away invading monkeys.

Another source that used the picture is here.

Conclusion: 

211 Check found that the photo that is being shared, claiming to be from Juba and Uganda, is false. The picture originated from the Indian state of Urdu and has been online since 2016..

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

The post <strong>Fact-check: Is this tiger dog from South Sudan or Uganda?</strong> appeared first on 211CHECK.

Writer: Kei Emmanuel Duku 

Video footage posted on Turkana TV, a Facebook page with over 39,000 followers, showing houses burning immigration and customs houses in Nadapal is false.

The video posted on Monday, September 18, 2023, claimed Toposa youth from South Sudan burned immigration and customs offices at the Nadapal border post between South Sudan and Kenya.

The Nadapal belt stretches 25 kilometres (16 mi) southward from the border with South Sudan to Lokichogio in Kenya. The village of Nadapal lies on the road between Narus in South Sudan and Lokichogio. The area has been the scene of violent clashes between Toposa and Turkana pastoralists, traditional rivals. 

In the video, it can be seen clearly that one of the houses is still in flames while the other two, the roof, have been raised down by the fire, but the walls remain. Also, in the video, a group of people could be heard talking in a local language, and another man dressed in a cap and shirt walking. By the time of putting this write-up, the video had gotten 3.9 Views, 22 comments, over 170 interactions and 10 shares. 

Claim Verification:

A day after the post was made, Eye Radio quoted the Commissioner of Kopoeta East in Eastern Equatorial State, Abdalla Angelo, who confirmed that there was “NO” fighting between the Trukana of Kenya and Toposa youths from South Sudan in the bordering town of Nadapal. 

He, however, confirmed that some youth from the Turkana tribe of Kenya came to Nadapal to do a honey feast, but they didn’t completely put off the fire they had used for harvesting the honey and, in the process, burning some houses.

No credible media reported about the incident, and a search using Google Lens showed that only Turkana TV shared the video and the news.

Alternatives towards Peace: 

The two pastoral communities have been in conflict for a long time, resulting in the loss of lives and destruction of properties, but mid-this year, officials from the Kenyan Government paid a visit to Torit, Eastern Equatoria State Capital, to find lasting solutions to the conflict 

Similarly, as a way to foster unity among the two communities, Williams S. Ruto, President of Kenya and his counterpart Slava Kiir from South Sudan agreed to implement joint Infrastructural projects along the border to facilitate trade, movement of labour and unity between the two conflict troubled communities 

Conclusion: 

211 Check found the claim in video footage posted by The Turkana TV on Facebook that South Sudanese youth burned immigration and customs houses at Nadapal false.

Kapoeta East County Commissioner says some houses were burnt by fire that wasn’t completely put off following a honey feast by visitors in the area.

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

The post <strong>Fact-check: South Sudanese youth didn’t burn houses at the Nadapal border post last week</strong> appeared first on 211CHECK.

Writer: Makur Majeng

A photo shared in a post by the Top in South Sudan Facebook page claiming that an excited man standing behind a lady is a student at the University of Juba is entirely false.

The University of Juba is an English-language public university in Juba, South Sudan. It was founded in 1975.

“Meet Calvin Pidor at the University of Jama Juba—the happiness. #TopTRENDS.” claims Top in South Sudan’s Facebook post, which generated over 200 reactions and 17 comments at publication.

But what truth does the above claim hold?

See more pictures below:-

Claim Verification:

A Google reverse image search was conducted to verify the picture’s authenticity. This search revealed that the image has been widely used on the internet and has no specific association with the University of Juba or any educational institution.

The picture first appeared online in April 2019 and was reported to have been shared by a student of the University of Port-Harcourt (UNIPORT) in Rivers State, Nigeria, according to Naijaload and Naijacover websites. The individuals in the picture have no reported connection to the University of Juba.

Conclusion:

211 Check has found the claim made by the Top in South Sudan Facebook page, alleging it is the photo of a student at the University of Juba, false. The photo originated in Nigeria and has been circulating online since April 2019 without any reported connection to the University of Juba.

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

The post <strong>Fact-check: This excited man standing behind a lady isn’t a University of Juba student</strong> appeared first on 211CHECK.

Writer: Jibi Moses

A picture of a man holding a pistol accompanying a story by the Ugandan website The Ankole Times, with the headline “Gun Drama Unfolds in Bugolobi Market, Private Security Guard Unleashes Mayhem,” is false. 

The photo shows the man holding a pistol on a deserted road, with a few bodaboda men and journalists taking pictures. It also shows shopping arcades (stores) that were closed and a road that was clearly marked.

“In the not-so-bustling market of Bugolobi, a surprising turn of events unfolded when a private security guard, Aijuka Rode, decided to play cop in a local drinks and merchandise shop. Unfortunately, his aim wasn’t as impressive as his delusions of grandeur. A female shopkeeper, Mutesi Zainabu, found herself caught in the crossfire of an alleged altercation with our wannabe Rambo. Police Deputy Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed the less-than-heroic incident…,” partially reads the article published on July 29, 2023.

211Check Investigation:

An internet search of the keywords “A guard shoots people at Bugolobi market” returns many results confirming the incident as reported by the following media houses, here, here, here, and here.

The news reports by the media established the identities of the guard as Arode Aijuka and the victim of the shooting as Zainabu Mutesi. The incident also reportedly took place at night, raising doubts about the image used by The Ankole Times. 

A Reverse Image Search of the picture shows that the image has been used on earlier dates by different users, including the Ankole Times, this time with a headline on demonstrations in Kenya. The article makes reference to a Kenyan MP brandishing a firearm at protesters.  

Consequently, a keyword search using ‘MP Holds a Gun in Kenya in 2023’ produced many results showing that the man in the photo is Nakuru West Member of Parliament Samuel Arama.

The MP reportedly drew his gun when a group of demonstrators allegedly vandalised his hotel during anti-government protests on July 19, 2023. The incident was widely reported, as seen here, here, here, and here. 

In a news report by Kenyans.co.ke, the MP is quoted as having said: “We are all Kenyans; we also voted for Raila, but he lost to William Ruto. Why should these people destroying property not get shot?”

Conclusion.

211 Check finds the picture used by the Ankole Times purportedly showing a guard who shot a woman in Bugolobi as false and misleading. In the picture is Nakuru West Constituency MP Samuel Arama, The image was taken during the demonstrations in Kenya, where demonstrators allegedly vandalised his hotel.

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

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives. Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter 

The post <strong>Fact-check: Was this picture of a man holding a gun taken in Bugolobi, Kampala?</strong> appeared first on 211CHECK.

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A video shared on Facebook by Fuata Nyuki-Wa Kungu claiming that the Iranian President’s visit to Kenya was cancelled is false and misleading. The video, shared on 12 July 2023, contains narration and is accompanied by text stating that Kenya’s president, William Ruto, was panicking after the US warned him not to accord the Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi, a state visit to Kenya.

“Ruto has been going all over Africa, chest thumping how Africans should be trading in their currencies away from the dollar. But a simple warning from [the] USA sends him in a panic, causing a diplomatic blunder, after he’s forced by the Western powers not to accord the Iranian President a State visit,” reads the post. 

The video’s narration transcript reads: 

“Imagine this, you are the president of Iran and you are about to embark on a historic tour of Africa, the first of by an Iranian leader in over a decade. You have been invited by the President of Kenya, who wants to boost trade and cooperation with your country. But then something goes wrong at the last minute, you are informed that your visit has been downgraded to an official visit meaning no state courtesies, no pomp and ceremony, no red carpet treatment. You are shocked and insulted by the sudden change of plans. You wonder what could have caused this snub. Is it pressure from the U.S. which imposed sanctions on your country? Is it fear of backlash from Israel which considers you a threat? Is it a sign of disrespect from Kenya which has closer ties with your rivals. You decided to cancel your visit and demand an explanation. You feel angry and betrayed by this diplomatic blunder. You wonder if Kenya is a reliable partner or puppet of the West. This is not a fictional scenario. This is what happened to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi who was supposed to arrive in Kenya today for a state visit. Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the visit was rescheduled to allow finalisation of key MOUs that are central to the furtherance of relations. But sources say Kenya changed its mind due to certain reasons that have not been disclosed. Iran has cancelled the visit and is waiting for an apology from Kenya. A high level crisis meeting is currently ongoing at the state house trying to resolve the matter and find ways of convincing President Raisi to come to Kenya. What do you think about this situation? How do you feel about Kenya’s decision? How do you think Iran will react?” 

211 Check investigation: 

According to a media report reviewed by 211 Check, the Iranian President was welcomed with a red carpet in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on Wednesday, 12 July 2023.

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi inspects the guard of honour during his state visit at the State House in Nairobi on 12 July 2023. © AFP/Simon Maina

Additionally, according to a K24TV video tweet, the Kenyan President said his country had witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on communication and information technology, fisheries, animal health, and livestock production with Raisi upon his visit to Kenya.

From left Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, accompanied by Kenya President William Ruto (middle), courtesy K24 TV.

The visit was initially slated for Tuesday, 11 July 2023. Still, according to the Kenya Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as per the media report, it was rescheduled for Wednesday to give room for the finalisation memorandum of the understanding.

“The President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, was scheduled to arrive in the country for a visit today [Tuesday]. The visit allowed the two countries to review and re-energize their bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries. The schedule of the President [of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi] has now been reviewed to allow for the finalisation of key MoUs central to further relations. The Iranian President will now arrive tomorrow [Wednesday 12th, July 2023]  for a State Visit,” reads part of the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement as quoted by the media.

“The President will be at the State House at 7.00 am tomorrow [Wednesday] for a bilateral meeting. He will, after that, proceed to lay a wreath at the Mausoleum of the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta before proceeding to tour other African countries,” the ministry added.

In addition to that, Dr. Alfred N. Mutua, the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, tweeted that President William Ruto held high-level bilateral talks with his counterpart, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the five memoranda of understanding signed laid the basis for continued socio-economic cooperation.

The Iranian President’s tour to Africa also took him to Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Conclusion:

The visit by the Iranian President to Kenya was not cancelled due to a warning from the U.S. government; the visit took place, and both Kenyan and Iranian presidents signed memoranda of understanding to further the relationships between the two countries.

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

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s important to fight misinformation and disinformation in media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter 

The post <strong>Fact-check: Was the Iranian President’s trip to Kenya cancelled?</strong> appeared first on 211CHECK.