In a twist of fate, a man supposedly named John Kiarie was caught in a case of mistaken identity and received over Sh96,000 from Kenyans.
The confusion began after Dagoretti South MP, also called John Kiarie, publicly apologized for his stance on the 2024 Finance Bill.
MP Kiarie’s phone number, along with those of other MPs, was leaked online. This leak caused a flood of unwanted calls, messages and financial transfers to the wrong John Kiarie.
The wrong recipient, who is not a member of parliament, attempted to set the record straight during a call on Homeboyz Radio’s Drive Show, hosted by Lotan and Jakes Nyojam. In the live broadcast, he explained his situation to the listeners.
“Mimi si mheshimiwa, watu wote wameshinda wakinipigia kwani sai ndo mumefunguliwa, hi number si yake, nmetumia hi from nkiwa class 8 in 2008”, he said.
Mistaken identity has led to Kiarie receiving Sh96,000 from well-meaning but misinformed strangers. While he appreciates the financial boost, he emphasized that he is not affiliated with Congressman Dagoretti Sur.
“Uyo mtu ni jina tu tunashare pero hata simjui na hata mimi si wa Dagoretti. Lakini ni vizuri wamenitumia pese, sai imefika Sh96K,” he added.
Molo MP Kimani Kuria also revealed that after his phone number was leaked, he received over Sh168,000 from strangers.
Suba North legislator Millie Odhiambo, on the other hand, revealed that she received messages of all kinds, including from young men seeking her to be their “sugar mummy”.
Data Commissioner Warning
However, the Data Commissioner’s Office has warned against those who leak private data online, warning of dire consequences.
“This practice is a clear violation of the right to privacy of the affected persons, enshrined in Article 31 of the Constitution of Kenya,” stated the Data Commissioner in a recent announcement.
The ODPC strongly advised the public to stop sharing any personal information that could infringe on individuals’ privacy rights.
“We urge all members of the public to refrain from further sharing personal information that infringes on people’s rights to privacy.” the statement emphasized.
Additionally, the ODPC provided a clear channel for those whose privacy has been compromised to seek redress.
“We encourage any member of the public whose privacy has been violated to file a complaint through [email protected]“,” recommended by the Office.
This step is crucial to address complaints from those affected and ensure that appropriate action is taken against violators.
