It starts with a familiar scroll. You are on TikTok, perhaps looking for health tips, when a video pops up. A distinguished doctor in a white coat looks you in the eye and recommends a “miracle” supplement for fatigue or menopause. The voice is steady, the lip movements match, and the advice seems sound. But it is all a digital lie.

A rigorous investigation by the fact-checking organisation Full Fact has uncovered a sprawling network of AI-generated “deepfake” videos impersonating real doctors to sell products for a US-based firm, Wellness Nest. For the estimated 15 million Kenyan adults who make TikTok their primary entertainment source, this marks a dangerous evolution in online misinformation.

The Anatomy of the Scam

The scheme is sophisticated yet simple. Scammers scrape real footage of medical experts from the internet—university lectures, news interviews, or educational clips. Using advanced artificial intelligence, they manipulate the audio and video to make the expert appear to endorse products like probiotics or Himalayan shilajit.

Leo Benedictus, the lead investigator at Full Fact, described the tactic as “sinister and worrying.”

“The creators deploy AI so that someone well-respected or with a big audience appears to be endorsing these supplements to treat a range of ailments,” Benedictus noted. The goal is to bypass your skepticism by borrowing the authority of a white coat.

The Kenyan Impact

Why does this matter in Nairobi, Kisumu, or Mombasa? Because Kenya is a global heavyweight in TikTok usage. According to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report, Kenya leads the world in TikTok consumption, with 54% of users actively engaging with the platform. This high engagement makes Kenyans uniquely vulnerable to algorithmic scams.

The financial risk is real. While the videos originate globally, the products they push are often accessible locally or via shipping. In Kenya, Himalayan shilajit supplements typically retail between KES 1,300 and KES 5,500 depending on the brand and form (resin or capsules). For a family managing a tight budget, falling for a fake endorsement is not just embarrassing—it is a costly mistake.

• The Bait: Deepfake videos targeting specific demographics, such as women going through menopause.
• The Hook: A trusted face, like Prof David Taylor-Robinson of Liverpool University, whose image was used in at least 14 doctored videos without his consent.
• The Catch: The products often have unproven effects, leaving buyers with lighter wallets and no health benefits.

A System Under Siege

Prof Taylor-Robinson expressed shock after discovering his digital twin was peddling unproven remedies on TikTok. “It is a violation,” he said, highlighting the helplessness victims feel when their professional reputation is hijacked by code.

This development comes as Kenyan authorities are already grappling with the rise of synthetic media. In late 2025, the High Court in Mombasa issued a warning about the threat of deepfakes in criminal proceedings, signaling that the country’s legal and digital infrastructure is on high alert.

While social media giants face growing pressure to label or remove AI-generated content, the speed of upload often outpaces detection. For now, the best defense remains a healthy dose of skepticism. If a doctor on your screen is selling a miracle cure, pause and verify—before you pay.