Two Nairobi men arraigned for defrauding woman Ksh.15M in fake cryptocurrency deal

Jackson Apollo Ananda and Alvin Oduya Atieno are accused of obtaining 116,000 USD (equivalent to Ksh.15,360,000) from Tuyishime Grace on April 30, 2025, at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi, by falsely claiming they could help her trade on Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange platform.

The prosecution told the court that the duo, jointly with others not before the court, made the representation knowing it to be false.

Apart from the charge of obtaining money by false pretences, the two also face a second count of conspiracy to defraud contrary to Section 317 of the Penal Code.

They allegedly conspired to defraud the complainant on the same date and location by misrepresenting their ability to facilitate crypto trading.

Appearing before Magistrate Caroline Mugo, the accused, through their lawyer, pleaded for leniency, saying they are not flight risks and are willing to abide by all bond terms imposed by the court.

The magistrate ordered that a pre-bail report be prepared before determining their release terms.

The case will be mentioned on October 9, 2025, for a bail ruling.