Never make the mistake of receiving M-Pesa money sent to you by accident, keeping it, and then switching off your phone thinking you have suddenly entered witness protection.
Mary Nanjala allegedly learned that lesson the hard way after KSh33,000 landed in her M-Pesa account by mistake.
Instead of sending the money back, she allegedly chose to keep it. Then came the bold move—switching off her phone.
Perhaps she thought the matter would disappear with the phone signal.
It didn’t.
According to the account of the incident, investigators began tracing the transaction and eventually identified one of her frequently contacted numbers—her so-called “soft contact.”
That contact reportedly helped detectives establish her whereabouts.
And just like that, the hide-and-seek game was over.
Investigators eventually traced Mary to her home, where she was arrested over the alleged retention of the mistakenly sent funds.
The case took an even more serious turn when Mary pleaded guilty. She could now face a hefty penalty under Kenya’s Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, with the offence carrying a possible sentence of up to 14 years in prison or a fine of up to KSh5 million, depending on the applicable charge and circumstances.
The incident serves as a costly reminder that mistaken mobile-money transfers are not free money.
If someone accidentally sends you KSh33,000, the safest move is simple: return it.
Don’t switch off your phone.
Don’t disappear.
And definitely don’t assume the money has magically become yours.
Because while you may switch off your phone, the transaction trail doesn’t switch off. 😅
Lesson of the day: If KSh33,000 lands in your M-Pesa account by mistake, switch on your conscience—not airplane mode.
M-Pesa may be mobile, but apparently the evidence has a very good memory. 📱😂
