Eric Omondi Unmasks Fabricated Plea for Help, he thought he was helping a mother in crisis. Instead, he exposed a ploy.
A video circulated showing a woman being driven from her home by a man. It stirred the nation. The woman, identified as Joyce Nyabuti, claimed she had been forced out over her children’s mental-health struggles. The story touched many hearts.
Eric Omondi, a comedian turned philanthropist, sprang into action. He used his initiative, Sisi Kwa Sisi, to share Joyce’s plight and asked Kenyans to support. Within hours, more than KSh 1 million poured in from well-wishers.
At first glance, it seemed a small victory for kindness. But Omondi had doubts after Kenyans sent videos of one of the child in some YouTube videos.
He returned to Kitengela to meet Joyce. The claims made proved right. He discovered she had staged the act. The “husband” in the clip was a stranger. The child featured had mental-health issues, used for sympathy. Joyce had conspired with an accomplice posing as a sister to deceive the public.
“When I was driving back to Nairobi,” Omondi said, “people sent me videos of this kid on YouTube. So I knew there was something wrong and I came back to do due diligence.”
He handed the phone used for collecting donations to the Kenya Directorate of Criminal Investigations. Joyce and her accomplice were taken into custody for questioning.
Outrage
Many had rallied behind Joyce in good faith, moved by her apparent suffering. Their aid was sincere. But the deception has left a scar. It hurts not only trust in strangers but in charitable efforts too.
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