The family of slain social media influencer Frank Obegi has denied claims the deceased led a lavish lifestyle.
Obegi was among four youths whose mutilated bodies were found dumped in Ngubi Forest, Kijabe, Kiambu County on Sunday, June 20, 2022.
Obegi, who was a popular blogger, Elijah Omeka, Fred Mokaya and Moses Amenya mysteriously went missing on Tuesday, June 15.
Police said the friends were involved in cryptocurrency fraud and other online scams mostly targeting victims outside the country.
As the probe into the mysterious murders continue, Obegi's family has disputed reports their son lived life on the fast lane.
In an interview with a local media station, Obegi's mother, Beatrice Nyanchama, said the deceased led an honest life.
She recounted their last conversation on June 11 where Obegi begged her to send him Ksh70.
"When we last talked, he seemed desperate. He said he needed only Ksh70 but I told him I did not have the money," the distraught mother disclosed.
Obegi's brother, Laytton Ongaga, also said the deceased was struggling in real life and Kenyans should ignore the social media reports saying otherwise.
"Frank lacked even money to buy food. Whatever he portrayed online was a lie," Ongaga said.
On his part, Obegi's father said the deceased came from a humble background, insisting that the family is struggling to meet his burial expenses.
Frank Obegi allegedly cheated death in 2021
Last year, Obegi and Amenya are said to have escaped death narrowly at a popular bar in Kasarani when they were saved by police officers.
The two were reportedly cornered by one of their victims and were about to be lynched when police intervened to save the situation.
After they were released from custody, they relocated to their rural homes briefly, according to close friends.
“I am not surprised Obegi died in that manner. He who lives by the sword dies by the sword,” a friend said.
Another close friend identified on Twitter as “Babu Moja” said he and Obegi’s brother had warned him about his behaviour, but he never listened, adding that the gang began with ATM fraud before graduating to cryptocurrency.
“His brother Leyton and some of us at Seasons warned him several times… Rest easy bro Frank Obegi. Guys, kuleni jasho yenu tu, scamming won’t help at all,” he wrote.
He further insinuated that they could have been killed by associates of a person they had scammed.
“Mose (Amenya) is believed to have been the mastermind. The guy went on a spree of vengeful deadly mission to get his money back,” he wrote.
