A New York based mother of four is pleading with the courts to deliver justice after losing millions to a forex scam in Kenya.
Rahma Abdullahi Adam, a resilient and hardworking child caregiver, has spent years nurturing young souls while carefully splitting her earnings between providing for her children in the U.S. and supporting her extended family in Kenya. But her dreams of financial security were shattered after losing over Sh 27 million to what she believed was a promising investment opportunity.
While searching for an investment plan, Rahma was introduced to what seemed like a golden opportunity, a stake in a flourishing money transfer business in Kenya.
According to Rahma’s lawyer, Danstan Omari, the deal was presented to her by her father through a trusted friend, who promised that her USD 100,000 investment would secure a 20% stake in Taaj Money Transfer’s expansion.
While addressing the media, Omari stated that the earlier transactions appeared legitimate, complete with formal agreements and receipts under Rasmi Pay LLC, and Rahma had no reason to doubt the plan at the time.
He further added that Abdullahi Abdi Hussein, the then manager of Taaj Money Transfer, had assured Rahma of the business’s potential, painting a picture of a lucrative and trustworthy investment.
However, as months passed, Rahma grew anxious. She was initially told the business would launch by September, then by November. Yet, nothing materialized.
When she pressed for updates, she was met with vague reassurances and endless excuses. Sensing deception, Rahma consulted her father, who was alarmed and urged her to withdraw from the deal immediately.
When she demanded a refund, Abdi attempted to convince her to invest even more in a new venture, a fresh stake in Taaj’s Eastleigh branch. But Rahma refused.
Determined to recover her hard-earned money, Rahma sent her father to Nairobi to confront Abdi and demand the return of her USD 213,000, only to be met with another shocking revelation—Abdi claimed the money had been lost within Taaj’s system.
“Upon realizing that the whole deal seemed like a scam, I sent my father to confront Abdi in Nairobi where he told my father that he had no money since it had all been lost in the Taaj System,” remarked Rahma.
When pressured, Abdi finally admitted that the money had been used to settle other debts and that he had no funds left to return. The betrayal left Rahma’s father in shock, triggering a spike in his blood pressure.
Left with no other recourse, Rahma traveled back to Kenya on December 31, 2024, to personally follow up on the case. Upon arrival, she discovered that Taaj’s Eastleigh branch had been shut down due to fraudulent activities and that Abdi had been fired.
Determined to seek justice, she filed a report at the DCI Kilimani Police Station, leading to Abdi’s arrest on January 2, 2025. However, he was released just days later on a cash bail of Sh 100,000, a mere fraction of what she had lost.
As Rahma pursued legal action, she found herself entangled in a battle beyond the courtroom. Local elders attempted to pressure her into settling the matter out of court, insinuating that her quest for justice would be futile.
Meanwhile, the financial burden of the case mounted. She drained her resources covering flights, legal fees, and accommodation—all while still providing for her children back in the U.S.
Now, Rahma stands at a crossroads, determined to fight not just for herself but for countless others who have fallen victim to fraudulent schemes.
She clings to the hope that Kenya’s legal system will hold Abdi accountable and restore her faith in the country she once dreamed of investing in