A woman has been arrested after allegedly masterminding a fake abuse story that conned comedian Eric Omondi and the members of the public of more than KSh1 million.
The incident began after a video went viral showing the woman being forcefully thrown out of her house with two children.
The distressing footage sparked outrage online, with many Kenyans appealing to Eric Omondi to intervene through his ‘Sisi Kwa Sisi’ foundation, which often supports vulnerable cases.
Responding to the public outcry, Omondi traced the woman and launched a fundraising campaign. Within hours, well-wishers had contributed over KSh1 million to support her and the children.
However, the sympathy-driven campaign quickly unraveled when it was discovered that the entire ordeal had been staged.
According to investigators, the woman had borrowed one of the children from a friend and hired a man to act as her abusive husband for the video.
Upon interrogation, she confessed to orchestrating the elaborate scam to exploit public sympathy.
Following the revelation, Omondi reported the matter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The woman was arrested, and the mobile phone used to collect donations, which had more than KSh1 million, was seized as evidence.
DCI officers have since confirmed that she is in custody pending arraignment. The case highlights the growing trend of online scams exploiting social media to prey on well-meaning Kenyans.
While expressing disappointment, Eric Omondi thanked Kenyans for their generosity and urged the public to remain vigilant against fraudsters. The comedian stressed that his organization would continue to help genuine cases despite the setback.
