Deepfake news clip fabricates doctor's explosion and murder plot to promote dubious remedy
A deepfake video circulating on Facebook fabricated a Kenyan news report showing an explosion and a doctor promoting a dubious health remedy. Fact-checkers verified the video contained false elements including misrepresented news footage, explosion footage from Ohio, and a non-existent doctor, designed to scam viewers into buying the promoted product.
What happened
A viral Facebook video fabricated a news report showing Citizen TV anchor Swaleh Mdoe presenting a story about a doctor named Kiprono Chepkurui whose house was destroyed in an explosion allegedly linked to pharmaceutical companies.
The video included fabricated footage of an explosion claimed to be the doctor's house but actually showed a house explosion in Ohio, USA on 20 November 2024. The video also featured the purported doctor claiming pharmaceutical companies are a 'mafia' wanting to kill him and promoting a product to cleanse blood vessels.
The video had over 497,000 views on Facebook and directed viewers to click a link to purchase the promoted product.
Reported impact
The deepfake video misrepresented Citizen TV's journalism and manipulated viewers by impersonating a trusted news anchor to promote a dubious health product.
Index analysis
The video showed Citizen TV's 7pm news bulletin presented in English, but Swaleh Mdoe is a Kiswahili anchor and the bulletin is broadcast in Kiswahili, indicating manipulation.
A reverse image search revealed the explosion footage was from Ohio, USA, not Kenya, and had no connection to the purported doctor.
A Google search for 'Dr Kiprono Chepkurui' returned no results, suggesting the doctor is fictitious.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
This record was researched and written by the Index from original reporting. Its sources are still being verified by an editor, and they are listed here once that check is complete. Until then the record carries no reviewer.