KSh 33,000 M-Pesa Mistake Turns Costly as Woman Faces 14 Years in Jail

A woman who allegedly received KSh 33,000 in her M-Pesa account by mistake is now facing up to 14 years in jail after she decided to keep the money instead of returning it.

The woman, identified as Mary Nanjala, is said to have received the money and then switched off her phone, thinking the matter would end there. Reports indicate she went on to spend the money, believing she could not be traced.

Days later, detectives tracked her down and arrested her. Investigators used transaction records and standard tracing procedures to identify the recipient of the funds.

She was charged under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, specifically Sections 34 and 35, which criminalize the unauthorized use and retention of benefits arising from a computer system. She pleaded guilty to the charges and is now awaiting sentencing, with the law providing for up to 14 years in prison or a fine of up to KSh 5 million.

The case has renewed warnings from Safaricom and police for Kenyans to always reverse money received by mistake. Kenyans are advised to forward the original M-Pesa message to 456, contact customer care on 100 or 200, or use the reversal option on the M-Pesa menu immediately, instead of withdrawing or spending money that does not belong to them.