KISUMU, Kenya, November 9th-Kenya’s digital payments landscape has become a minefield for unsuspecting citizens, as cross-border cyber fraud continues to entrap innocent individuals.
According to verified reports, multiple Kenyans have had their Alipay and WeChat accounts frozen due to fraudulent transactions they did not initiate, leaving them unable to trade, travel, or access basic services.
One of the most striking cases is that of Lilian Wanjiru Kingori, a Kenyan student returning from China on October 11, 2022. Known for assisting peers with currency exchanges, Lilian became a victim when a third party used her details to swindle a Chinese national. Her accounts were frozen, and despite her full cooperation with authorities, including the DCI’s Cybercrime Unit, she remains under suspicion.
“Every day I wake up wondering if I’ll ever clear my name,” Lilian says. “I did everything right, reported, cooperated, proved my innocence, but I’m still treated like a suspect.”
Another Kenyan, identified only as Naph, faced similar consequences after processing legitimate transactions for a Chinese contact. His Alipay account was frozen, leaving him financially immobilised. Investigations suggest a common link between the suspects in both cases, raising concerns about systemic weaknesses in handling cross-border digital fraud.
Experts point to slow investigative processes and a lack of coordination among the DCI, Interpol, and oversight bodies, leaving victims exposed while perpetrators continue to operate. “If the DCI cannot protect innocent citizens whose only crime is trust, then the rot runs deep,” notes a digital fraud analyst.
Under Kenya’s Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, and its 2024 amendment, offenders face fines of up to Sh 20 million or ten years’ imprisonment for identity theft and online impersonation. Legal analysts say the law is clear, but enforcement remains inconsistent.
Lilian’s plight highlights a broader issue: a growing number of Kenyans are caught in digital limbo, their livelihoods and reputations destroyed, as a system meant to protect them fails. Without decisive action from the DCI and oversight institutions, more citizens risk becoming collateral damage in the cross-border cyber fraud crisis.
Repeated requests for comment from the DCI and IPOA went unanswered at the time of publication.
