What started as a promise of quick profits ended in heartbreak and court drama.
A woman named Tuyishime Grace believed she was about to make a smart cryptocurrency investment — but instead, she lost a staggering .
According to police reports, she was approached by two individuals — Jesus Godoua Imedji, a foreign national, and Judith Mbatha Nzioka, a University of Nairobi student. They claimed they could help her trade safely on Binance, one of the world’s biggest cryptocurrency platforms.
They told her it was simple: transfer 116,000 USDT, roughly KSh 15.3 million, and they’d handle the trading.
But once the money was gone… so were they.
⚖️ Arrest and Arraignment
Investigations led police to trace the suspects to Nairobi. The two were arrested and arraigned at Milimani Law Courts in late May 2025.
Both were charged with obtaining money by false pretences and conspiracy to defraud — charges that carry heavy penalties under Kenyan law.
They pleaded not guilty, insisting the deal was legitimate.
The prosecution, however, argued that the two had set up a sophisticated online fraud, exploiting the victim’s trust and lack of crypto expertise.
🚨 Inside the Courtroom
During the hearing, the prosecutor urged the court to deny them bail, saying the foreign national could easily flee the country and that the accused might interfere with witnesses.
Their lawyer pushed back, saying both were students with permanent addresses in Nairobi and no prior criminal record.
The court scheduled a bail ruling for May 28, 2025, leaving both in custody as investigations continued.
💡 The Bigger Picture — A Wake-Up Call for Kenya
This case has sent shockwaves across Nairobi’s tech and business communities, exposing the dark side of crypto trading and online financial scams.
In recent years, Kenya’s growing interest in digital currencies has attracted not just genuine investors — but also fraudsters who exploit the craze. Many victims are lured with flashy screenshots of fake profits, promises of quick returns, and “experts” posing as crypto mentors.
Police have repeatedly warned Kenyans to verify all crypto transactions, deal only through verified platforms, and avoid sending money to individuals they don’t personally know.
🧩 Lessons from the Case
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Verify Everything: Real Binance or trading platforms never ask users to send funds to private wallets.
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Beware of ‘Guaranteed Returns’: There’s no shortcut in investing — especially in crypto.
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Trust but Verify: Even educated and tech-savvy people can fall for well-crafted scams.
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Report Suspicious Deals: Early reporting helps authorities track and stop digital crime networks.
🔍 Final Thoughts
The story of Tuyishime Grace is a painful reminder of how digital dreams can quickly turn into financial nightmares.
For the accused — Imedji and Nzioka — the case could determine not just their freedom but the future of how cybercrime is punished in Kenya.
As Kenya’s courts take on more tech-related fraud cases, one thing is certain: trust is the new currency, and once it’s lost, even millions can’t buy it back.
