Suba North Member of Parliament Millie Odhiambo has revealed that she fell victim to an alleged M-Pesa fraud scheme over the December holidays, an ordeal she says left her with only Sh17 in her mobile money account at the height of the festive season.
The outspoken legislator shared her experience on social media, narrating how she discovered her funds had been wiped out just as she was preparing to host guests and manage holiday expenses.
Her account quickly sparked widespread discussion online, with many Kenyans relating to the growing threat of mobile money fraud.
“This Christmas I was broke — or you think we do not get broke?” Odhiambo wrote. “I had guests and I had money on M-Pesa. I decided to use it only to discover it had all been cleared by M-Pesa thieves. Guess what? They left a balance of Sh17.”
“Wheee, I had to kopa,” she said, using the Kiswahili slang for borrowing money. “This is Njaanuary and fees must be paid.”
The lawmaker also expressed suspicion over how the fraud was executed, suggesting it may not have been a random attack.
“It looked like an inside job,” she remarked, without providing further details.
She went on to publicly call out Safaricom, the telecommunications company behind M-Pesa, demanding accountability and a refund of the stolen funds.
“M-Pesa, I need my money back,” she stated. “This should not happen to anyone.”
The MP’s experience has reignited debate on whether existing safeguards are sufficient, especially during peak periods like holidays when transaction volumes increase and users may be less vigilant.
Her story also drew comparisons to past incidents involving other public figures whose accounts were compromised, reinforcing the view that no user — regardless of status — is immune.
“If this can happen to an MP, what about ordinary wananchi?” one social media user commented.
Beyond personal loss, Odhiambo’s remarks touched on a broader issue of trust in digital financial systems. As Kenya continues
Consumer advocates have long called for clearer accountability frameworks, faster dispute resolution, and stronger collaboration between mobile service providers and law enforcement agencies.
“We must protect people’s money,” Odhiambo said, summing up her frustration. “No one deserves to go through this.”
