‘They’re Criminals,’ Popular Radio Presenter Rapcha The Sayantist Accuses Electric Bike Firm Spiro of Fraudulent Practices

Nairobi, December 19, 2025 A fierce online battle has erupted between popular Kenyan radio presenter and comedian Francis Kibe Njeri, known as Rapcha The Sayantist, and electric mobility company Spiro, with the entertainer alleging that the firm engages in unfair and potentially fraudulent business practices that have left him and other riders out of pocket.

Rapcha, who hosts a reggae show on Hot 96 FM and is recognized for his blunt commentary on social issues, has used his X platform to launch a blistering series of accusations against Spiro over the past week.

In a post on December 11, he claimed that Spiro remotely disables batteries and flags them as stolen if a bike remains inactive for just five days, even in cases of illness, accidents or repairs. “Is Spiro a business or criminal organisation?” he wrote, sharing images of what he described as over 100 repossessed bikes at a Spiro station in Mlolongo.

He further alleged that Spiro maintains a stranglehold on spare parts, selling them at inflated prices up to ten times market rates and does not provide chargers with the bikes, forcing users to rely on the company’s swapping stations.

In subsequent posts, Rapcha detailed his personal nightmare: after paying KSh 95,000 for a bike and agreeing to daily payments of KSh 180, his battery was deactivated and the bike was allegedly handed over to influencers for what he called a smear campaign against him. “SPIRO ARE CRIMINALS!!! Avoid or lose your money!!! I’m a victim!!!” he repeated in multiple updates, including one on December 19 showing photos of his bike purportedly in the hands of strangers.

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The allegations have gained explosive traction online, with thousands of likes, reposts and comments from Kenyans echoing similar frustrations.

Some users described Spiro’s model as a scam, comparing it to predatory lending schemes, while others defended it as a necessary approach to manage expensive batteries in an electric vehicle ecosystem.

Rapcha’s campaign has highlighted broader concerns about consumer rights in Kenya’s growing electric mobility sector, where companies like Spiro aim to promote sustainable transport but face mounting scrutiny over transparency.

Spiro operates across six African countries including Kenya, Benin, Togo, Rwanda, Uganda and Nigeria, with over 60,000 electric bikes in circulation and approximately 1,500 battery swap stations as of November 2025.

The company offers bikes starting at KSh 95,000 under a battery as a service model, where riders own the bike frame but lease the battery through swaps. Riders pay approximately KSh 290 per battery swap.

This, Spiro argues, keeps upfront costs low and ensures battery health and circulation.

In response to the backlash, Spiro has defended its policies, stating that dormant batteries are repossessed after five days of inactivity to maintain asset efficiency and safety.

A company notice from Africa Smart Mobility Solutions Limited, Spiro’s legal entity, explains that this prevents degradation and keeps batteries available for active users. Spiro has acknowledged that the system can seem rigid and is reviewing how to handle exceptional circumstances such as medical issues or repairs.

However, critics including Rapcha argue that the policy effectively punishes riders without clear communication or recourse.

This is not the first controversy for Spiro in Kenya. In October, riders accused financing partner Huduma Credit of defrauding them of over KSh 24 million after failing to deliver bikes despite collecting KSh 9,500 deposits each.

Protesters gathered at Huduma offices demanding refunds, citing unprofessional treatment.

Huduma CEO Jimal attributed delays to a backlog of around 2,136 orders and offered refunds to those opting out.

Additionally, in July 2024, whistleblower Nelson Amenya alleged that Spiro benefited from a controversial tax arrangement involving former Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, where taxpayers would pay KSh 2.5 billion in import taxes to allow the company to sell products 30 percent cheaper than competitors.

Spiro has not issued a detailed public response to these claims.

Consumer advocates have called for regulatory oversight, urging bodies like the Competition Authority of Kenya and the Consumer Protection Authority to investigate Spiro’s practices.

“Transparency in asset ownership and fair treatment of customers are essential in emerging industries like electric mobility,” said a source familiar with the sector, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Rapcha, who has a history of using humor and media to address societal issues from his early days performing at funerals and church gatherings in Mathare Valley, through his time at Ghetto Radio to the satirical show Raiyaa with Mwafreeka on NTV and his current Hot 96 FM role has framed his campaign as a stand for ordinary Kenyans. The comedian and presenter, who has previously worked on Churchill Show and is known for his Raw N Unkut stand up comedy specials, has never shied away from confronting powerful interests. Spiro, meanwhile, emphasizes its contributions to reducing emissions and creating jobs in the boda boda industry.

As the dispute unfolds, both sides have exchanged pointed messages online, with Rapcha releasing private chats and Spiro supporters accusing him of misinformation. Efforts to reach Spiro for direct comment on Rapcha’s specific case were unsuccessful by press time, and Rapcha declined to provide further details beyond his public posts.

Kenya Insights will continue monitoring developments in this story.

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