Kenyan businessman Jayesh Saini has been accused of masterminding a secretive project aimed at developing software capable of spying on ordinary Kenyans.
The software, allegedly designed to monitor private communications and online activities, was proposed as a high-tech tool for political manipulation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The project, according to leaked documents, involved luring software developer Ms. Jackie Wachuka into creating a sophisticated system to collect and analyse data on citizens without their consent.
Wachuka alleges that she was approached in late 2023 by senior political operatives, including policy messaging strategist Eric Ng’eno, to undertake the project.
Indian-based businessman Jayesh Saini during a past media presser. Source: The Star/Facebook
The funding for the venture, she claims, was promised by Saini, who has long been associated with controversial dealings in Kenya’s healthcare and business sectors.
Wachuka alleges that after delivering key components of the software, she was abandoned by her collaborators.
Payments were withheld, leaving her in significant financial distress, including penalties for her subcontracted US-based firm. Efforts to seek accountability resulted in threats to her safety, with her family also targeted in a campaign of intimidation.
Saini’s alleged involvement in this covert project raises serious ethical and legal concerns, particularly regarding privacy rights and the misuse of technology for political gain.
Observers have questioned how such a project could be executed without oversight and have called for an immediate investigation.
Separately, Saini has also been implicated in managing the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), despite its public positioning as a government initiative. Sources allege that Saini’s influence over SHIF operations has undermined the program’s transparency, further entrenching his control over critical sectors of the Kenyan economy.
These revelations paint a troubling picture of unchecked power and the potential misuse of technology for political and personal advantage.
Wachuka’s ordeal highlights the risks faced by professionals who become entangled in shadowy dealings with powerful individuals.
