What Deepfake Scam Exploiting Raila Odinga’s X Account Reveals About Generative AI Risks
A cryptocurrency scheme briefly hijacked the verified X (formerly Twitter) account of former prime minister, Raila Odinga...
✨ Key Highlights
The verified X account of former prime minister Raila Odinga was briefly hijacked to promote a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme called "Kenya Token," highlighting the increasing use of generative AI in financial fraud across Africa.
- A video, now confirmed as a deepfake, purportedly showed Odinga endorsing the "Kenya Token" project.
- The Telegram group for the alleged token has attracted over 1,600 members despite lacking a contract address or transaction history, raising suspicions it exploited Odinga's stature.
- Similar deepfake scams have recently targeted Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa in Kenya and billionaire Mohammed Dewji's account in Tanzania, which raised nearly US$1.5 million.
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Read the complete article from The Kenyan Wall Street
Part of the Day's Coverage
Kenya Experiences 80.8% Rise in Cyber Threats; CBK Launches Cybersecurity Centre - September 2025
According to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), detected cyber threats in Kenya increased by 80.8 percent to 4.6 billion between April and June, a rise attributed to improved surveillance. In response to growing threats, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has established a Banking Sector Cybersecurity Operations Centre (BS-SOC) to bolster the defenses of the nation's financial system. This center will provide threat intelligence, incident response, and cyber investigations. These measures come as financial fraud using generative AI is on the rise, highlighted by a recent incident where former prime minister Raila Odinga's verified X account was hijacked to promote a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme called "Kenya Token."
