Kenyan Pastor in Dallas Sparks Outrage on X After Alleged $500K Fraud Scheme Targeting Diaspora Churchgoers Exposed

Country: USA (Dallas, Texas)
Date Published: November 29, 2025

In a scandal that's ignited heated debates across Kenyan diaspora communities on X (formerly Twitter), Pastor Elias Kimani, a prominent Kenyan preacher based in Dallas, Texas, stands accused of orchestrating a multimillion-shilling Ponzi-like scheme that allegedly defrauded over 200 fellow expatriates and their families back home. The controversy erupted into the spotlight on November 29, 2025, when a viral thread by verified Kenyan journalist @MuthoniNjorogeKE amassed over 15,000 retweets and 50,000 likes within hours. In the thread, Njoroge shared screenshots from private WhatsApp groups and bank transfer records purportedly showing victims who invested in Kimani's "Prosperity Harvest Investments," a church-affiliated fund promising 30% monthly returns on remittances funneled through his ministry.

The allegations first bubbled up in diaspora-focused X Spaces hosted by @KenyansInUSA, a popular account with 120K followers run by Kenyan expats in North America. During a live audio discussion on November 27 that peaked at 8,000 listeners, several callers tearfully recounted losing life savings—ranging from $5,000 to $50,000—promised as "divine seed offerings" for real estate ventures in Texas and Kenya. One user, @DianaFromNairobi (verified with 20K followers), posted a now-deleted but widely screenshotted video of herself confronting Kimani at a church event, claiming, "Pastor, you took my kids' college fund! Where's our money?" Her post, timestamped November 28 at 14:32 EAT, garnered 7,200 quote tweets, many amplifying calls for U.S. authorities to investigate. Regular users piled on, with hashtags #PastorKimaniScam and #DiasporaThieves trending in Kenya and the U.S., peaking at #47 globally among Kenyan users by midday November 29.

Kimani, who has built a following of over 30,000 on X under @PastorEliasDallas, responded defensively in a series of posts that only fueled the fire. In a 10-tweet thread posted at 09:15 CST on November 29, he denied the fraud claims, attributing the uproar to "Satanic attacks from jealous brethren" and claiming the investments were legitimate but hit by "market fluctuations." He shared what he described as audited financials from a Dallas-based firm, though users quickly pointed out discrepancies, including mismatched dates and untraceable LLCs. Influencer @Citizentvkenya, a major Kenyan news outlet with 2.1M followers, retweeted the thread with a cautionary note: "Unverified claims flying around—victims urged to contact @FBIDallas. Diaspora must vet 'blessings' carefully." The post drew 12K replies, blending sympathy for victims with skepticism toward Kimani's narrative. Notably, several high-profile Kenyan-Americans, including musician @SautiSolu (based in Atlanta), voiced support for transparency, tweeting, "Prayers for the flock, but accountability first. #KenyansAbroad."

The scandal taps into broader anxieties within the Kenyan diaspora, which sends over $4 billion in remittances annually to Kenya, according to World Bank data often cited in X discussions. Threads under #KenyansAbroad have exploded with user-generated content, including infographics from @RemittanceWatchKE detailing similar past scams targeting Gulf and U.S.-based workers. One viral meme by @JohoJokes, featuring Kimani's photo edited onto a wolf in sheep's clothing, racked up 25K likes, underscoring the betrayal felt by many who view churches as safe havens abroad. Legal experts chimed in too; U.S.-based Kenyan lawyer @AdvocateOtieno posted a breakdown of potential SEC violations, advising victims to file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission. By evening on November 29, Dallas PD confirmed they were "aware of online reports" but no arrests had been made, prompting further X outrage with users tagging @ICEgov and @StateDept.

As the story continues to trend— with over 250K mentions in the last 48 hours—this case highlights the vulnerabilities of Kenyans living abroad, where isolation and trust in cultural institutions can lead to exploitation. Positive counter-narratives emerged too, with community leaders like @KenyanDiasporaOrg calling for unity and financial literacy workshops. Yet, the dominant tone on X remains one of fury and caution, serving as a stark reminder that even in the land of opportunity, the hustle for prosperity can turn predatory. Kimani's church services, live-streamed on YouTube, saw a sharp drop in viewers, while victim support groups formed rapidly on Telegram, cross-promoted via X. For now, the digital courtroom of X holds sway, with justice hanging in the balance as real-world investigations loom.

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