Raila Odinga’s X Account Hacked by Crypto-Scammers Pushing Fake Digital Coin

ODM leader Raila Odinga

On Thursday, hackers briefly compromised ODM leader Raila Odinga's official X account to promote a fake cryptocurrency project called the "Kenya Token."

The hackers published a professionally crafted message asserting that Raila was leading the introduction of a new digital asset intended to "enhance Kenya’s financial system and promote economic growth."

The post also indicated that the token would be launched on the Solana blockchain and instructed users to follow a Telegram channel for updates.

This aroused the suspicion of The Hourly NewsWave team.

“We are pleased to announce that Kenya token will soon launch. A new digital asset aimed at improving our financial system and supporting economic growth,” read part of the fake post.

The deceptive announcement caused confusion online, with some users at first thinking it was genuine.

Screen grab of the compromised tweet.

However, others swiftly identified it as a scam, pointing out its similarity to other cryptocurrency frauds aimed at unsuspecting investors throughout Africa.

Leading digital finance educator Moe (@moneyacademyKE) was one of the first to caution Kenyans against the scheme.

“Somebody hacked Raila Odinga’s Twitter account and made a deepfake to scam people. Don’t fall for it, it’s a scam,” he cautioned in a widely shared post.

It has been reported that the scammers circulated a deepfake video created by AI, allegedly showing Raila endorsing the coin, which further amplified the hoax.

By Thursday evening, Raila's team had regained access to his account and removed the fraudulent post.

He subsequently shared Moe's warning again, affirming that the digital coin claims were false.

Cybersecurity specialists have cautioned Kenyans to stay alert, as the application of deepfake technology in political impersonation and financial frauds is increasing.

They contend that prominent individuals like Raila are often targeted due to their influence and capacity to generate significant online interaction.

This is not the first instance where well-known Kenyans have been implicated in digital currency scams. In the past, similar fraudulent endorsements have exploited the images of leaders, frequently spreading on social media to deceive users into participating in these scams.

Currently, Raila has entirely dissociated himself from the alleged Kenya Token, and his office has confirmed to supporters that his official X account is once again secure.