A cloud of fear and anger has settled over dating circles in Nairobi after more victims came forward to report harrowing experiences linked to an American national accused of being a serial Tinder predator.
The suspect, King Nwachukwu, is currently in police custody and is scheduled to appear at the Kibera Law Courts on August 31 for his bail application.
This comes days after a Citizen TV expose first brought the allegations to light, triggering a wave of other women to share similar encounters with the man they met on Tinder.
New allegations emerge
According to Citizen Digital, more women have now reported cases of sexual assault, manipulation, and violence after meeting Nwachukwu through the dating app.
Some of the new complainants allege that the encounters turned violent, with claims of choking, being photographed without consent, and threats to keep quiet. The pattern described mirrors what was flagged in the initial expose: men meeting women on Tinder, then allegedly using force once they got to private locations.
“I thought it was just a date. It turned into the worst night of my life,” one of the women told Citizen TV in the follow-up interviews.
Suspect in custody, court date set
Nwachukwuwas arrested following public outcry after the first story aired. He was then arraigned before Senior Principal Magistrate Zainab Abdul at Kibera Law Courts where he pleaded not guilty to rape charges filed by a 19-year-old JKUAT student. The alleged incident occurred after a Tinder date at a luxury apartment in Westlands. He is scheduled to return for his bail application on August 31.
Detectives say they are compiling statements from the additional victims who have come forward since the expose, and more charges could be added depending on the outcome of investigations.
The report on the story sparked online discussions about safety on dating apps in Nairobi. Activists and legal experts at the time warned that predators were exploiting the anonymity of platforms like Tinder to target women.
With more victims now speaking out, the case has grown from a single complaint to what police are treating as a pattern of alleged serial assaults. Women’s rights groups have since organized safety forums and are urging dating app users to meet in public places and share their live locations with trusted contacts.
Public reaction
On social media, the hashtag #JusticeForVictims has been trending, with Kenyans demanding a thorough probe and harsher penalties if the allegations are proven in court.
This is not just about one man. It’s about how safe our women are when they date,” posted one user.
As the August 31 court date approaches, all eyes will be on Kibera Law Courts to see whether bail will be granted, and whether more victims will testify.
According to Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Ibrahim Amin, detectives from the Gender-Based Violence Unit have been assigned to record statements, collect digital evidence including Tinder chats, and trace other possible victims who may not have reported.
“We appeal to any person who may have interacted with the suspect and experienced similar incidents to visit any nearest police station or DCI offices to record a statement,” DCI said. “No victim will be victimized for speaking out.
Investigators are also working with Tinder and telecommunication providers to obtain data that could link the suspect to multiple complainants.
The DCI further warned Kenyans against meeting strangers from dating apps in private locations, and advised the public to always meet in public places, share live locations, and inform trusted people.
With the August 31 bail application at Kibera Law Courts fast approaching, the DCI says the case file will be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions(ODPP) for review once all statements are compiled. More charges could be preferred depending on new evidence.
Ends…
Anyone with information is urged to call the DCI toll-free hotline 0800 722 203.
