Kenyan detectives have arrested five suspects believed to be part of a sophisticated M-PESA fraud ring that has been targeting mobile money agents across the country.
In a coordinated operation conducted on Wednesday, May 21, officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), led by the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau and the Operations Action Team, intercepted the suspects following a trail of complaints from defrauded M-PESA agents in multiple counties.
Who Was Nabbed?
The suspects, linked to a string of agent-targeted scams, include:
- Geoffrey Kasamani Chula – Eldoret (Munyaka)
- Stephen Mokaya Nyangoya – Kitale (Tiwani)
- Paul Nganga Kariuki – Eldoret (Hawaii)
- Teresia Muthoni Mwaniki – Eldoret (Kimumu)
- Cedela Akoth Oruya – Kibosi (Kisumu)
Key Evidence Recovered: Phones, SIM Cards & Vehicle
The group was apprehended while traveling in a Toyota Premio (registration KBW 441J). Upon searching the vehicle, detectives uncovered a trove of mobile phones and SIM cards registered under multiple identities—tools suspected to have been used in executing the digital heist.
The suspects were transported to Ruai Police Station, where one of the earliest fraud complaints had been recorded.
“This is a breakthrough in dismantling a larger web of digital fraudsters who have been draining mobile money operators of millions,” a DCI officer close to the investigation noted.
The Scam: How Agents Were Duped
While exact tactics are still under probe, sources within the DCI say the group employed a combination of SIM card swapping, identity theft, and fake reversals—a rising threat in Kenya’s digital financial landscape.
The DCI says investigations are expanding into other counties where M-PESA agents have reported similar scams, signaling a wider national crackdown on mobile money fraud.
“We believe these five are part of a larger syndicate. More arrests will follow,” DCI confirmed in a Thursday morning statement.
As Kenya continues to digitize financial services, the incident highlights an urgent need for tightened security around mobile transactions and enhanced verification protocols for agents and customers alike.
