DCI detectives have arrested five hackers wanted for the the theft of Ksh 3.2 million that began during a traffic along Race Course Road.
After accessing the victim’s phone, they were able to withdraw the amount through various bank accounts and M-Pesa numbers that have all been traced by the detectives.
“Authorities have arraigned five tech-savvy fraudsters who orchestrated a sophisticated hacking scheme, draining over Sh3.2 million from a victim’s bank accounts.
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The incident began when a complainant found himself stuck in traffic along Race Course Road while driving. As he sat in his vehicle, two individuals knocked on either side, leading him to believe he had been involved in a minor accident. When he rolled down his window to assess the situation, one of the strangers snatched his mobile phone and quickly disappeared.
Following this theft, detectives from Starehe Sub-County launched investigations and discovered that unauthorised transactions had been swiftly made from the complainant’s bank accounts after the incident.
In the first account, Sh1,892,625 was unlawfully transferred. Among the transactions were Sh689,500 sent to various accounts linked to the name Fredrick Maina Wairimu, Sh299,500 transferred to Brian Machani, and Sh499,500 directed to Brian Obaye Kiveu. Additionally, Sh404,125 found its way to the complainant’s phone and subsequently funnelled into encrypted Safaricom M-Pesa accounts.
The second bank account also suffered heavily, with Sh1,311,615 siphoned off. This included Sh299,500 sent to Bonface Kirim Baimana, another Sh299,500 to John Erick Musyoki Kyengo, and Sh211,000 directed to Jambo Pay Trust. Additionally, Sh501, 615 was transferred to seven Safaricom numbers.
Through forensic leads, detectives zeroed in on Fredrick Maina Wairimu, who, during interrogation, implicated Peter Wandera Ouma. Fredrick revealed that Peter had approached him with an offer to register 11 bank accounts tied to Safaricom lines in exchange for Sh1,000 per account. These accounts were to be handed over to one Peter Kariuki Mathii.
The investigation continued to unravel when Peter Wandera Ouma disclosed that he had been introduced to Peter Kariuki Mathii by Hanington Kui Walubengo, who was arrested shortly thereafter.
The three, Fredrick Maina Wairimu, Peter Wandera Ouma and Hanington Kui Walubengo, were arraigned before the Makadara Law Courts on April 28, 2025, where detectives were granted a 21-day custodial order to complete their investigations.
Determined to uncover the network behind this elaborate fraud, detectives expanded their efforts, ultimately leading to the arrest of Peter Kariuki Mathii in Ruiru town. He was found in a Toyota Voxy registration number. KDN 566L with his accomplice, Isaack Mugo Kanini.
A search of their vehicle yielded a trove of evidence, including assorted Safaricom SIM cards, a SIM card registration device, counterfeit currency resembling U.S. dollars, and multiple ATM cards.” said DCI
David Nganga Macharia has been confirmed as the mastermind behind the theft and is wanted by detectives over a 2019 electronic fraud case. A warrant for his arrest had been issued against him at Milimani Court on January 24, 2019.
“During a search of his navy-blue Subaru registration no. KDB 879M, detectives recovered various account documents, an assortment of mobile phones, and papers resembling U.S. dollars. A further search of his residence in Zimmerman, along Thika Road, uncovered even more incriminating evidence, including numerous SIM cards, multiple national ID cards, mobile phones, laptops, and additional ATM cards.
The three, Peter Kariuki Mathii, Isaack Mugo Kanini and David Nganga Macharia, were arraigned at Makadara Law Courts on May 5, 2025, where the court granted detectives 10 days’ custodial orders to complete investigations and apprehend more suspects.” said DCI
