Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo has revealed how suspected M-PESA fraudsters allegedly drained her mobile money account, leaving her with only KSh17 and forcing her to borrow cash to handle urgent expenses.
The outspoken legislator shared the shocking ordeal on Monday, January 19, warning Kenyans about the growing danger of mobile money fraud that continues to hit both ordinary users and public figures.
According to Millie Odhiambo, the incident came to light during the Christmas holiday period when she tried to access funds she believed were safely stored in her M-PESA account.
She had hosted guests and planned to rely on her mobile money balance, only to discover that the money was already gone.
What alarmed her most was how cleanly the account had been wiped, with fraudsters allegedly leaving behind just KSh17.
The MP said the nature of the transactions raised serious suspicion, hinting that the theft may not have been random and could involve a well-coordinated scheme.
Left stranded at a time when festive and household expenses were high, the legislator disclosed that she had to borrow money to get by.
The situation later stretched into January, a period marked by heavy financial pressure due to school fees and other commitments.
Millie Odhiambo publicly appealed to M-PESA to intervene and help trace and recover the stolen funds, calling attention to the need for stronger safeguards and quicker response mechanisms for fraud victims.
Rising Mobile Money Fraud in Kenya
Cases of M-PESA fraud have been on the rise across Kenya, with criminals using tactics such as **SIM-swap fraud, social engineering, compromised PINs, fake transaction alerts, and phishing messages**. In many cases, victims only realize their money is gone when they attempt to transact.
The MP’s experience has sparked fresh debate about digital financial security, accountability within mobile money platforms, and whether current consumer protections are sufficient.
Her story serves as a reminder that no one is immune to mobile money fraud and that Kenyans must remain vigilant as fraudsters become more sophisticated.
