Nairobi, Kenya – September 18, 2025 – The verified X.com account of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been hacked, with attackers using it to promote a suspicious cryptocurrency called “Kenya Token.”
At around 12:35 PM EAT on Thursday, a pinned tweet appeared on Odinga’s official account, featuring a deepfake AI video of him seated at a desk, allegedly endorsing the new token.
The post claimed that “Kenya is stepping up to lead Africa into the crypto revolution” and directed followers to join a Telegram channel for more updates. It further alleged that the token would launch on the Solana blockchain.
Immediate Backlash From Experts
The message reached Odinga’s 4.9 million followers, sparking alarm across Kenya’s tech and crypto communities. Analysts were quick to warn that the post bore all the hallmarks of a classic crypto scam, designed to exploit the credibility of a high-profile, verified political figure.
Cybersecurity experts also noted that the video shared was an AI-generated deepfake, a growing trend in online fraud that makes scams appear more authentic.
What This Means for Kenyans
The incident highlights both the rising threat of deepfake scams and the dangers of trusting financial promotions on social media, even when they appear on verified accounts.
Authorities and tech experts have urged Kenyans to remain vigilant, avoid clicking suspicious links, and confirm information from official communication channels.
At the time of publishing, neither Raila Odinga nor his communication team had issued an official statement, though efforts are likely underway to regain control of the compromised account.
