The TruthDesk

Professional fact-checking for the social media age. We investigate viral claims, debunk misinformation, and provide evidence-based verdicts you can trust.

[The TruthDesk @The_TruthDesk]

FACT CHECK 🌍 🔍 AI & CYBERCRIME

“AI now powers 55% of cybercrime in Africa.”

⚠️ MOSTLY ACCURATE: But there’s an important detail.

INTERPOL’s 2026 African Cyberthreat Assessment says AI is enabling 55% of reported cybercrimes across Africa, based on data from 36 African countries.

That does NOT mean 55% of every cybercrime committed across all 54 countries is AI-powered.

WHAT IS CLEAR:

AI is making scams, phishing, deepfakes and identity fraud faster and harder to detect.

#FactCheck #AI #Cybercrime #Africa #DigitalSafety #Cybersecurity #Disinformation #KnowTheFacts #NoSpinJustFacts

[The TruthDesk @The_TruthDesk]

🇿🇲 ZAMBIA ELECTIONS OFFICIAL RESULTS 📃

FACT CHECK 🔍

HAKAINDE HICHILEMA has won Zambia's 2026 presidential election. ✅

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has officially declared Hichilema President-elect after he secured 61.4% of the valid vote.

His main challenger, Brian Mundubile, received about 38%.

Because Hichilema crossed the 50%+1 threshold, Zambia will not have a presidential runoff.

This time, the winner is official.

#FactCheck #Zambia #ZambiaElections2026 #Hichilema #Elections #Africa #NoSpinJustFacts

[The TruthDesk @The_TruthDesk]

🇿🇲 ZAMBIA ELECTIONS OFFICIAL RESULTS 📃

FACT CHECK 🔍

HAKAINDE HICHILEMA has won Zambia's 2026 presidential election. ✅

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has officially declared Hichilema President-elect after he secured 61.4% of the valid vote.

His main challenger, Brian Mundubile, received about 38%.

Because Hichilema crossed the 50%+1 threshold, Zambia will not have a presidential runoff.

This time, the winner is official.

#FactCheck #Zambia #ZambiaElections2026 #Hichilema #Elections #Africa #NoSpinJustFacts

[The TruthDesk @The_TruthDesk]

🇿🇲 ZAMBIA DECIDES 🇿🇲

FACT CHECK 🔍

Does the candidate with the most votes automatically win Zambia's presidency?

NO. ❌

To win in the first round, a presidential candidate must secure more than 50% of valid votes.

WHY IT MATTERS

With 13 presidential candidates in the race, the possibility of a runoff is important context when interpreting early results. A candidate leading the first count is not necessarily the winner.

If no candidate reaches 50%, the top two face a runoff.

So when early results start coming in, leading ≠ winning.

Know the rules before sharing the numbers.

#TruthDesk #FactCheck #Zambia #ZambiaElections2026 #Elections #Democracy #Africa #NoSpinJustFacts

[The TruthDesk @The_TruthDesk]

FACT CHECK 🦠🔍 | EBOLA IN THE DRC

Is the current Ebola outbreak the deadliest ever?

Not globally. But it is the deadliest recorded in the DRC.

As of 16 August, the outbreak had recorded 4,945 confirmed cases and 2,325 deaths, surpassing the DRC's previous record from 2018–2020.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a less common Ebola species.

IMPORTANT:

This is NOT the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history. The 2014–2016 West Africa outbreak killed more than 11,000 people.

FACT: Deadliest in DRC history.
NOT FACT: Deadliest Ebola outbreak the world has ever seen.

#TruthDesk #FactCheck #Ebola #DRC #PublicHealth #Africa #Health #NoSpinJustFacts

[The TruthDesk @The_TruthDesk]

12TH AUGUST 2026: TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

Will Kenya see today's total solar eclipse?

Not Nairobi. ❌

The solar eclipse is crossing parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain and Portugal.

Some parts of Africa will see a partial eclipse, but Nairobi will not see this eclipse.

And remember: regular sunglasses are NOT safe for viewing an eclipse.

Check the location. Check the science.

#FactCheck #Science #SolarEclipse #Kenya #Astronomy #Eclipse2026 #KnowTheFacts #TruthDesk

[The TruthDesk @The_TruthDesk]

HEALTH FACT CHECK ✅

MYTH:
You can catch hepatitis B by sharing food, hugging, or shaking hands.

FACT:
Hepatitis B does NOT spread through casual contact. It is transmitted through infected blood and certain body fluids. Health experts continue to warn that hepatitis B remains a silent epidemic in Kenya because many people do not know they are infected.

Knowing the facts helps reduce stigma and encourages early testing and vaccination.

#FactCheck #TruthDesk #Health #Kenya #HepatitisB #PublicHealth #KnowTheFacts

[The TruthDesk @The_TruthDesk]

FACT CHECK ✅

MYTH: Every M-Pesa transaction is automatically taxed.

FACT: M-Pesa is a payment platform—not a tax. What matters is whether the money received is taxable income, not whether it passed through mobile money.

Knowing the difference can help individuals and businesses stay informed and avoid misleading claims.

#TruthDesk #FactCheck #Kenya #MPesa #Tax #FinancialLiteracy #KnowTheFacts

[The TruthDesk @The_TruthDesk]

DID YOU KNOW?
Kenya's public university lecturers don't all retire at the same age.

FACT CHECK ✔️

NOT all university lecturers in Kenya are automatically subject to the same retirement rules as other public servants.

While many assume all public servants retire at 60, university academic staff may be governed by different employment terms, contracts, or legal provisions depending on their institution and role.

Today's debate centres on proposed changes affecting some academic staff and whether those rules should be harmonised across institutions.

Not that every lecturer has been ordered to retire immediately.

Why it matters: Experienced professors are essential for research, mentoring and postgraduate education.

#TruthDesk #FactCheck #Education #Kenya

[The TruthDesk @The_TruthDesk]

So what is ET doing differently? Mainly, a legacy of professionalism. ET enjoys commercial independence despite State ownership. This is complemented by factors such as a passenger-centric approach that has seen it modernise its fleet to ensure comfort.

While the ET flies high, both literally and figuratively, other major African airlines are struggling or have collapsed, mostly surviving on government “life support”. Think Kenya Airways, South African Airways, Nigeria Air.

Why have the other African carriers failed to replicate Ethiopian Airlines' success story despite some having far stronger economies behind them?

Leave your comment below!

[The TruthDesk @The_TruthDesk]

Ethiopian Airlines takes off as African peers remain grounded

Ethiopian Airlines continues to cement its position as Africa’s largest and most profitable carrier, operating a fleet of over 150 aircraft and serving more than 20 million passengers annually. Call it Africa’s aviation success story!

THREAD 🧵

#TruthDesk #NoSpinsjustFacts

[The TruthDesk @The_TruthDesk]

And ET is not done: It plans to triple passenger traffic to over 60 million annually by 2040, increase its fleet to 350 aircraft and expand its destinations to 243.

[The TruthDesk @The_TruthDesk]

💰 Pump Pain Alert!

Malawi is paying a shocking $2.87 per litre for fuel – DOUBLE the global $1.30 average and 2nd highest ON EARTH!

Here are Africa’s Top 10 most expensive countries in Feb 2026. Kenya sits at $1.38 / KES 178.02 (11th) and just dodged the list.

Which country surprises you most?

#TruthDesk #FuelPricesAfrica #NoSpinsJustFacts #Kenya #Uganda #AfricaFacts

[The TruthDesk @The_TruthDesk]

@Roba7_ Hello, how can we help?

[The TruthDesk @The_TruthDesk]

𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌: KRA can now Tax Bank/ MPESA deposits.

𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐂𝐓: TRUE

𝐖𝐇𝐘? Tax Appeals Tribunal ruled that bank deposits are taxable income unless proven otherwise.

𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐓: Gather your Receipts

No Spin, Just Facts.

#TheTruthDesk #NoSpinsJustFacts #Kenya #Tax