Africa Check
Incorrect that 70% of Nigerian children aren’t registered
2nd September 2019 When Nigeria’s uncertain population figures are discussed, a startling statistic is frequently mentioned – that seven in ten of the country’s... →
No, adolescents don’t account for half of new HIV infections in Kenya
29th August 2019 Nearly half of new HIV infections in Kenya are among adolescents, a major drugmaker claimed during an international conference focused on the... →
No evidence for millions of jobs claim by Nigerian senior official
27th August 2019 Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, is “strongly committed” to creating more jobs in his second term. This is what finance minister Zainab Ahmed... →
Nairobi produces a fifth of Kenya’s GDP – not 45%, as the Guardian claimed
21st August 2019 In an article on unsafe abortions and urban poverty in Nairobi’s Kibera slum, the UK’s Guardian newspaper claimed nearly half of Kenya’s goods and... →
Kenya logging ban: Do senator’s claims about GDP and demand add up?
14th August 2019 Kenya’s 18-month-long ban on logging has closed businesses and caused a rise in both unemployment and construction costs, a senator has claimed.... →
South African promise tracker: 1 out of 7 for the African National Congress
8th August 2019 Africa Check’s Promise Tracker keeps tabs on election commitments by ruling parties in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. South Africa’s ruling... →
No research backs widely shared statistic about gun ownership risk in South Africa
1st August 2019 An awareness campaign in South Africa about the dangers of owning a firearm relies on an often-used claim. “From home invasions to hijackings and... →
What a waste: fact-checking four claims about Nigeria’s garbage problem
26th July 2019 Piling waste posed a “grave danger” to people in Nigeria, a national newspaper said, putting them at risk of environmental hazards and epidemics.... →
Claims on Kenya’s counties: fact-checking the 2019 State of Devolution Address
25th July 2019 On 28 June Kenya’s county governors issued the 2019 State of Devolution Address in which they laid out the achievements of the 47 county... →
Do 1 in 4 South African employees have depression?
24th July 2019 Whenever work anxiety, burn-out and stress in South African workplaces are reported on, a well-worn statistic is likely to be mentioned. “At least... →
German national Michael Duerr owns 0.5% – not 57.5% – of South Africa’s Reserve Bank
22nd July 2019 In the game of South African politics, the reserve bank is often the ball. And it’s clear who is on which side. The ruling African National... →
Is Nigeria’s Cross River state among the safest, as governor claimed?
19th July 2019 Cross River state governor Ben Ayade has been outlining his priorities for his second term in office, with security top among them. Despite the... →
Yes, Kenya’s county funding based on five-year-old national revenue figures
11th July 2019 A push to amend Kenya’s constitution continues to simmer, with backers of a draft bill saying they have the required million signatures supporting... →
Yes, Kenya’s health budget has risen 30% in last two fiscal years
8th July 2019 Better healthcare is a key pillar of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s legacy projects, known as the Big 4, as he serves out his second and final term.... →
South African police minister cites dubious UN standard as he calls for 60 000 more officers
2nd July 2019 Giving his second state of the nation address in June 2019, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa said that the first step to creating a country... →
No evidence powerful Kenyan minister urged debtors to default on popular mobile apps
27th June 2019 Has Kenya’s powerful interior minister banned mobile lending apps, as a post on a popular Facebook page claims? As evidence of this order, the user... →
Coca-Cola is right: 50% of young women in northern Nigeria have no formal education
25th June 2019 To mark International Women’s Day in March 2019, Coca-Cola Nigeria tweeted a video that opened with the claim that “50% of young women in northern... →
Kenya’s 2019 budget speech: do finance minister’s numbers add up?
18th June 2019 On 13 June 2019 Kenya’s finance minister Henry Rotich announced his budget for the 2019/20 financial year, which starts on 1 July. Rotich said the... →
Does Kenya have one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the world?
13th June 2019 A British charity’s recent appeal for donations said the death rates of mothers and young children in Kenya were very high, giving statistics to... →
Are nearly 80% of Kenya’s farmers smallholders? No data shows this
6th June 2019 Household budgets can be a tight balancing act in Kenya, with unpredictable weather playing ping-pong with food prices. The government’s budgets... →
Cadbury South Africa’s 3.7-million orphans claim based on old data
4th June 2019 A paper plane is the “closest thing to a toy” South African orphans may ever have, according to a May 2019 marketing campaign by chocolate company... →
Quick read: South Africa’s 2019 election in numbers
28th May 2019 In May 2019 South Africa held its sixth democratic election. Millions queued to make their mark on a longer than usual ballot paper. The dust is... →
Do eight professionals leave South Africa for every one that comes in?
27th May 2019 In an April 2019 episode of the Money Show on talk radio 702, host Bruce Whitfield explored why South Africa’s economy was “in trouble”. “Brain... →
Are there ‘100-million generators in private hands’ in Nigeria?
10th May 2019 During a “special open line” segment on his popular morning radio show, 702 host Bongani Bingwa asked South Africans to suggest solutions to the... →
No, SA government hasn’t built 4-million houses – and Ramaphosa didn’t promise a million in Alex
17th April 2019 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recently brought his election campaign to Alexandra, after a week of protests about service delivery in the... →
Top Kenyan lawyer gets parliament and judiciary funding numbers wrong
3rd April 2019 As Kenya’s parliament finalises the country’s budget forecasts, its allocation to the judiciary has left a prominent lawyer unimpressed. “Look at... →
False context: Graphic videos, photos not of recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa
2nd April 2019 South African government officials have met diplomats from other African countries to discuss reported attacks on foreign nationals in the... →
Settling the long-running DA-ANC spat over City of Tshwane finances
28th March 2019 In February 2019, South Africa’s political parties responded in parliament to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address, in what is... →
‘One South Africa for All!’ Fact-checking the DA’s 2019 election manifesto
26th March 2019 South Africa’s official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), launched its election manifesto in Johannesburg on 23 February 2019. The... →
World Water Day: 10 facts – some surprising – about Africa’s water
22nd March 2019 In 2019, World Water Day is focusing on the reasons why so many people still do not have safe water. To mark this day, we’re sharing some facts... →
No proof for ‘12-million jobs’ in Nigeria’s rice industry, as presidential aide claimed
19th March 2019 Rice has become a staple food in Nigeria, Africa’s most populated country, making the industry a priority for governments wanting to improve their... →
Does South Africa’s finance minister have his job creation numbers right?
14th March 2019 In a speech peppered with biblical quotes and many tales about plants, finance minister Tito Mboweni outlined his budget for South Africa on 20... →
The jewel in the crown: Lagos governor hopefuls fact-checked
8th March 2019 Nigerians again hit the polling booths on 9 March 2019, this time to vote in governors and state assemblies. To help inform voters, The City that... →
How Kenyatta mangled his numbers on Kenyan counties’ development spend
6th March 2019 Unsmiling and flanked by county governors, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered striking Kenyan nurses back to work, as he pushed back against their... →
‘Our land and jobs now!’ Fact-checking the EFF’s 2019 election manifesto
4th March 2019 The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a South African political party, launched its election manifesto on 2 February 2019 in the country’s Gauteng... →
Kenya’s Ruto at Chatham House: verifying the deputy president’s London speech
25th February 2019 Deputy president William Ruto has become the latest notable Kenyan politician to speak at London’s Chatham House, where he highlighted the... →
Battle of the titans: Fact-checking arch-rivals in race for Nigeria’s presidency
15th February 2019 This week, Nigerians will elect a president. They are spoilt for choice: the official list has 73 names for the presidency, though some have since... →
‘A better life for all?’ Fact-checking the ANC’s 2019 election manifesto
11th February 2019 South Africa’s ruling political party, the African National Congress, launched its 2019 election manifesto last month. Taglined “a people’s plan... →
State of the Facts: Verifying Cyril Ramaphosa’s #SONA2019 claims
8th February 2019 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his second state of the nation address in parliament on 7 February. It was also the fifth – and... →
Has SA’s President Ramaphosa kept his 2018 State of the Nation promises?
6th February 2019 President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to deliver South Africa’s annual State of the Nation address tomorrow night in Cape Town. And Africa Check will... →
No, 60 days of the ‘average’ Kenyan wage won’t buy you a new iPhone XS
5th February 2019 If the average Kenyan wants to buy a snazzy new iPhone XS smartphone, they’ll have to stop paying all other living expenses for 60 days, a story by... →
