A man named John Kiarie has found himself at the center of a bizarre case of mistaken identity, resulting in the receipt of over Sh96,000 from well-meaning but misinformed Kenyans.
The confusion arose after a public apology from Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie concerning his stance on the Finance Bill 2024.
The MP’s phone number, along with those of other Members of Parliament, was leaked online, leading to a flood of calls, messages, and unintended financial transfers to another John Kiarie who is not a member of parliament.
The mistaken recipient, who bears the same name as the MP, sought to clarify his situation during a live broadcast on Homeboyz Radio’s Drive Show with hosts Lotan and Jakes Nyojam.
Speaking in Swahili on the show, he said,
“Mimi si mheshimiwa, watu wote wameshinda wakinipigia kwani sai ndo mumefunguliwa, hii number si yake, nmetumia hii from nkiwa class 8 in 2008,”
John Kiarie, the mistaken identity victim, expressed his astonishment and gratitude for the financial transfers but clarified that he is not connected to the Dagoretti South MP.
“Uyo mtu ni jina tu tunashare but hata simjui na hata mimi si wa Dagoretti. Lakini ni vizuri wamenitumia pesa, sai imefika Sh96K,”
This peculiar situation arose in the wake of widespread public outrage over the Finance Bill 2024, which has been a hotly contested topic across the country. The leaked contact information of MPs was part of a larger wave of public backlash, with many citizens seeking to express their dissatisfaction directly to their elected representatives.
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