The founder of Somiek Edwin Cars was recently the subject of a now-debunked social media storm after multiple fabricated claims accused him of swindling women out of millions of shillings in an alleged car dealership scam.
The entrepreneur, previously known for his strong reputation in Kenya’s online auto sales market, faced baseless accusations of financial exploitation and manipulation—claims that have since been discredited.
Leading the charge was social media personality Kate Wa Gladys, the businessman’s ex-girlfriend, who falsely portrayed herself as both a victim and a financier of the dealership’s operations.
In her widely circulated post, she alleged that the businessman operated a pyramid-style contribution model, where groups of women pooled funds to purchase vehicles one by one. However, no credible evidence has been found to support the existence of such a scheme.
Kate claimed she funded several car purchases, including one for a woman named Suzy and another customer in Kisumu, yet investigations revealed inconsistencies in her story and a lack of documentation to substantiate her claims.
At the heart of the allegations was a supposed defective Mazda Demio and a repossessed vehicle—both cases later found to involve third-party dealers unaffiliated with Somiek Edwin Cars. Kate also claimed she was promised a refund and provided audio recordings, but experts determined the clips were edited and taken out of context.
Further claims that the businessman had gone into hiding were also found to be false. He remains active in the automotive business and has continued to serve clients without issue.
Sources close to the matter say the accusations appear to stem from a personal fallout rather than any business misconduct. “This was a clear case of character assassination driven by personal motives. The damage to his reputation was severe, but the truth is finally coming out,” one associate said.
Somiek Edwin Cars has reaffirmed its commitment to ethical business practices and urged the public to be cautious about misinformation spread online.
Authorities have not opened any formal investigations into the matter due to a lack of evidence, and legal action is now being considered against those who knowingly spread falsehoods.
