Veteran Kenyan journalist Jeridah Andayi has shared a heartfelt account of losing access to her Gmail and YouTube accounts following a targeted hacking incident.
In a tearful video posted on 28 July 2026, Andayi explained how hackers quickly altered her recovery email and two-factor authentication settings, effectively blocking all her attempts to regain control. Despite having her original credentials, she remains locked out as the hackers have changed all linked recovery options.
Impact and Challenges in Recovery
Andayi described the experience as a significant professional setback, saying it had deeply affected her morale. She noted a small relief in Google's system flagging suspicious login attempts and blocking the hackers from actively using the accounts. However, the lack of direct human support from Google complicates recovery efforts, as the process relies solely on automated prompts with no option for personal assistance.
"My account had all necessary security measures in place, yet it was still compromised," she said, emphasizing the vulnerability even for professionals.
Advice to Creatives and Followers
Closing her message, Andayi urged fellow creatives to protect their digital assets vigilantly. Her followers responded with sympathy and practical tips, including recommendations to use multiple backup emails and phone numbers, enable two-way verification, and utilize video selfie verification for account recovery.
- Clement Luyali Onyoli: Advocated for multiple backup emails and phone numbers plus two-factor authentication.
- Wé Kuya: Suggested adding video selfie verification once recovery is possible.
- Kevin Owino Okwero: Recommended using familiar devices and IP addresses during recovery attempts.
Jeridah Andayi continues to work tirelessly to regain access and rebuild her professional connections, offering a cautionary tale on the importance of digital security.
