Several Kenyans Likely Scammed After Raila Odinga’s Account Gets Hacked
A number of Kenyans may have fallen victim to an online scam after a deepfake video of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga endorsing a cryptocurrency surfaced on social media. The video was later confirmed to have come from a hacked account belonging to the veteran politician.
The suspicious video appeared on Raila’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, September 18, and quickly went viral across different platforms. In the clip, Odinga seemed to recommend a digital coin, describing it as a new financial product designed to boost Kenya’s economy.
However, the post was deleted later that same evening after suspicions were raised about its authenticity.
According to reports, Raila’s verified X account, which has over two million followers, had been compromised by hackers. They are believed to have uploaded the video with the intention of tricking unsuspecting Kenyans into investing in the dubious cryptocurrency project.
The deepfake video showed Raila apparently praising the coin and linking it to Kenya’s future growth. A portion of the video quoted him as saying, “Kenya is stepping up to lead Africa into the crypto revolution, embracing digital finance and shaping a more crypto-friendly future.”
The statement, however, was generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and did not reflect Raila’s real views.
While the video appeared convincing at first, especially since it came from Odinga’s official account, some sharp-eyed Kenyans quickly pointed out flaws in the footage. Others referenced unofficial clarifications from credible government sources, which further confirmed that the politician had not endorsed any such product.
Still, the damage had already been done. Preliminary data suggested that nearly 20 percent of the token’s supply was purchased shortly after the video went up, showing just how many people believed the message and rushed to invest. This highlighted how vulnerable the public is to scams spread through deepfake technology.
The incident also demonstrated how social media platforms, particularly X, have become fertile ground for fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. Hackers and online scammers continue to use the names and images of well-known figures to lure victims into financial traps.
Interestingly, this was not the first time such a case had been reported in Kenya. Just over a month earlier, on July 11, a social media account linked to ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo had also shared what seemed like an endorsement of the same digital coin.
His post suggested that the cryptocurrency was in line with Kenya’s broader goals of advancing technology and innovation. In the message, the account claimed, “It reflects the growing confidence in tokenisation as a tool for value exchange, inclusion, and innovation.”
Although it is still unclear how many Kenyans may have lost money in Raila’s case, the incident has sparked debate about the dangers of AI-generated content and the urgent need for stricter controls on online scams.
It also raises questions about the security of high-profile accounts and the risks ordinary citizens face when misinformation spreads unchecked on social media.
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