Raila Odinga’s Verified X Account Hacked to Share Fake Cryptocurrency Endorsement

A deepfake video of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga endorsing a cryptocurrency scheme was posted from his verified X account on 18 September following an apparent cyber breach.

The video, created using artificial intelligence, showed Raila promoting a digital token said to support Kenya’s economic development. Its convincing appearance, combined with Raila's prominence and the use of his official account, led many to believe the endorsement was genuine. 

Reports indicate that nearly 20 percent of the token’s supply was purchased within hours of the post going live. Digital rights organisations and government sources quickly questioned the video’s authenticity. 

A statement from individuals close to Raila, though not officially released, confirmed that his account had been compromised. The video was taken down later that evening, but by then it had already been widely shared, potentially influencing financial decisions by members of the public.

This incident represents a concerning development in the use of AI-driven content to promote fraudulent schemes. It follows a similar case in July involving Information, Communication and Technology Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo, whose verified X account also posted a message endorsing the same cryptocurrency. 

That post, which referred to tokenisation as a means of promoting “value exchange, inclusion, and innovation,” has not been publicly clarified or retracted.