Kenya Faces Rising Cybercrime Threat as Repatriated Citizens Rejoin Scam Networks

Kenya is confronting a renewed cybercrime risk after some citizens rescued from scam syndicates abroad were found to have rejoined the same criminal operations.

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi said a number of returnees are not merely victims but have become active participants in transnational fraud schemes. He cited the case of Maxweill Mutiso, whose actions illustrate the challenge facing the government.

Mutiso, previously deported from Myanmar after being removed from a scam compound, arranged his return to the region earlier this year. He left Kenya in mid-August, travelled to Malaysia, and then moved through Thailand before entering Myanmar illegally with support from criminal intermediaries. 

There, he resumed work in scam centres, including the well-known KK Park, which hosts online fraud operations and illicit casino activities. His activities ended abruptly when Myanmar’s security forces launched a raid on KK Park in August. 

Mutiso fled but was later stopped at Mae Sot Airport while attempting to travel back to Kenya using counterfeit documents. Investigators found irregularities in his travel record, including unlawful entry and forged immigration stamps. He admitted to the offences and remains in custody as authorities examine the networks that facilitated his movements.

Thailand’s Immigration Bureau confirmed that Mutiso had legally exited the country in March 2025 following his earlier deportation. His decision to re-enter the region illegally only months later highlights the persistence of individuals who continue to engage in cybercrime despite repatriation.

The incident has intensified concerns about Kenya’s ability to reintegrate citizens rescued from overseas scam compounds. Mudavadi noted that repatriation alone is not enough and that effective rehabilitation is necessary to prevent repeat offending. 

Experts warn that Kenya’s cyber landscape could face heightened exposure if returnees bring back technical skills, criminal links, and intent acquired abroad.