DCI arrests 5 after Sh3.2 million stolen from bank accounts

Five suspected fraudsters have been arraigned in court accused of siphoning over Sh3.2 million from a victim’s bank accounts in a meticulously coordinated hacking operation.

The victim, stuck in traffic along Race Course Road, was approached by two men knocking on either side of his vehicle.

Mistakenly believing he had been involved in a minor accident, he rolled down his window, only for one of the strangers to snatch his mobile phone and vanish.

A cascade of unauthorised transactions followed that bled his bank accounts dry.

Detectives from Starehe Sub-County launched a probe, quickly discovering that Sh1,892,625 had been drained from one account.

Investigators traced significant sums to several individuals: Sh689,500 to accounts linked to Fredrick Maina Wairimu, Sh299,500 to Brian Machani, and another Sh499,500 to Brian Obaye Kiveu.

5 HACKERS ARRAIGNED AFTER FLEECING OVER SH3M FROM VICTIMS' BANK ACCOUNTS

Authorities have arraigned five tech-savvy fraudsters who orchestrated a sophisticated hacking scheme, draining over Sh3.2 million from a victim's bank accounts.

The incident began when a complainant found… pic.twitter.com/2mPTZAASTl

— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) May 7, 2025

A further Sh404,125 was funnelled through the complainant’s mobile device into encrypted M-Pesa accounts.

The victim’s second bank account suffered an additional blow, with Sh1,311,615 siphoned.

Transactions included Sh299,500 each to Bonface Kirim Baimana and John Erick Musyoki Kyengo, Sh211,000 to Jambo Pay Trust, and Sh501,615 transferred across seven Safaricom numbers.

Forensic analysis led detectives to Fredrick Maina Wairimu. Under questioning, he admitted to registering 11 bank accounts linked to Safaricom numbers at the behest of Peter Wandera Ouma, in return for Sh1,000 per account. These accounts were reportedly handed over to one Peter Kariuki Mathii.

Further leads uncovered a wider conspiracy. Peter Wandera pointed detectives to Hanington Kui Walubengo, who had allegedly introduced him to Mathii.

All three were arraigned at Makadara Law Courts on April 28, 2025, and detectives were granted 21 days to deepen their investigation.

Their pursuit paid off when police tracked Peter Kariuki Mathii to Ruiru town. There, he was arrested alongside Isaack Mugo Kanini inside a Toyota Voxy (KDN 566L). Police recovered Safaricom SIM cards, a SIM registration gadget, fake U.S. currency, and multiple ATM cards.

Under intense interrogation, the duo led authorities to David Nganga Macharia, the alleged mastermind, wanted since 2019 for hacking and electronic fraud. A warrant for his arrest had been issued by the Milimani Court on January 24, 2019.

Macharia was nabbed in a navy-blue Subaru (KDB 879M), where detectives found multiple mobile phones, banking documents, and counterfeit U.S. currency.

A raid on his Zimmerman residence unearthed dozens of SIM cards, national ID cards, laptops, mobile devices, and ATM cards.

The trio, Mathii, Kanini, and Macharia, were arraigned at Makadara Law Courts on May 5, 2025, where detectives secured a 10-day custodial order as the hunt for more suspects continues.