This archive report was first published on 17 September 2019.
On May 10, 2019, hundreds of Rwandans attended a 'Wealth Conference' in Kigali, expecting to receive $197 each at the end of the event. However, the conference organizers had other plans.
Charles Kinuthia, a Kenyan motivational speaker, had solicited money from the attendees through mobile money, online banking, and cash at the conference venue. The total amount collected was over Rwf4 million ($4,339) and $680.
According to the court, Kinuthia used a tactic to confuse the interested people by sending different messages, which ultimately led to the collection of money from the attendees.
On September 17, 2019, a court in Kigali found Kinuthia guilty of defrauding Rwandans and sentenced him to two years in prison and fined him Rwf3 million ($3,254). The court also denied Kinuthia a suspended penalty due to his lack of remorse for the allegations against him.
His co-accused, Kenyans Vivian Khisa Mukhwana and Rachel Matipei, and Rwandan Mohamed Niyonkuru, were acquitted due to insufficient evidence provided by the prosecution.
