A dramatic online scam has rattled Kenyans after hackers took over Raila Odinga’s official X account and shared a convincing deepfake video endorsing a questionable cryptocurrency.
The video, uploaded on Thursday, September 18, showed the veteran opposition leader seemingly urging Kenyans to embrace a new digital coin said to “support economic growth.” With Odinga’s account commanding an audience of over two million followers, the post quickly spread before it was deleted later that evening.
In the doctored clip, Odinga appeared to declare, “Kenya is stepping up to lead Africa into the crypto revolution, embracing digital finance and shaping a more crypto-friendly future.”
But within hours, keen-eyed social media users began raising red flags. Tech-savvy Kenyans pointed out that the footage was AI-generated, while government insiders privately dismissed the supposed endorsement as fake.
Despite the warnings, unverified reports suggested that nearly 20 percent of the token’s supply had already been bought by unsuspecting investors immediately after the video went live.
The incident highlights just how sophisticated and dangerous online fraud has become, especially on platforms like X where scammers prey on trust built by public figures.
This was not the first time such a tactic was used. Barely six weeks earlier, ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo’s X account also appeared to push the same cryptocurrency, praising it as a tool for innovation and financial inclusion.
With high-profile accounts repeatedly falling into the hands of hackers, experts warn that Kenyans must tread carefully—because the next “big opportunity” might just be a well-disguised scam.
