How Impersonators Posing as President Uhuru Conned Nairobi Businessman of Sh80 Million
Seven suspects arrested over the weekend for reportedly impersonating a senior government official conned a Nairobi businessman of Sh80 million, police say.
Police say the suspects posed as President Kenyatta and promised to award the businessman government tenders worth millions of shillings.
The seven were arrested on Saturday in Nairobi by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Detectives believe the suspects are part of a cartel that defrauded officials from Sameer Group of Companies.
They are said to be well organized and have mastered the art of mimicking President Uhuru's voice to near perfection.
Investigators say the conmen also masquerade as senior State House officials.
They reportedly call businessmen interested in doing business with the government, where the caller imitates Uhuru and even speaks in a voice similar to that of the President.
They inform them of available lucrative government contracts and ask them to take up by giving some cash for logistical support.
Once they agree, he (President Uhuru's impersonator) promises to send some State House operatives or Ministry officials to collect the facilitation money.
The ‘State House officers’ arrive dressed in expensive suits, high-end car and under police escort. They then collect the millions and disappear.
The Star reports that the con scheme was exposed after officials from Sameer allegedly wrote to State House seeking to meet President Kenyatta over the 'tender' awarded to them.
The seven suspects are identified as Joseph Waswa, Duncan Muchai, Isaac Wanyonyi, William Simiyu, David Luganya, Gilbert Kirunja, and Antony Wafula.
During their arrest, police recovered four vehicles including a Toyota Land Cruiser V8, Toyota Mark X, and Toyota Axio that they were reportedly using to run their activities.
They will be arraigned in court on Monday to face charges of obtaining money by false pretense among other counts.
Comments
Kenya yetu 9ja have thought…
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Kenya yetu 9ja have thought our people the 419k...hii corruption kweli...mzaa if the deal is too good..fikiria mara twenty.
That's why the government…
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In reply to Kenya yetu 9ja have thought… by Romeo23 (not verified)
That's why the government need to think twice before giving Nigerians free pass to come to Kenya. Nigerians are the World's number one Masters in scamming. They are now exporting their scamming skills to Kenya and Kenyans are catching up fast and getting more and more daring. Kenyans have not seen anything yet, come 2032 half of the Kenyan population will be scam artists thanks to their Nigeria brothers. Nigerian scamming skills is spreading like fire in Kenya. I almost became a victim myself of a heavily accented Nigerian in Nairobi impersonating Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Facebook. In my case the bait was an award of a contact to supply Nairobi County hospitals with medical equipment worthy millions of shillings and the catch was that I had to register with Sonko Rescue Team by wiring forty thousand shillings diaspora fee to telephone number the scammer "Sonko" gave among others. Of course, from the onset I knew it was a scam but I played him to an extent that he allowed me to speak to his "Personal Assistant" even though I had not wired any money. In the end I had the last laugh but this incident only add to the notion that scamming has become widespread in Kenya and scammers have become extremely brazen and lack respect for authority including that of the highest person in the land
Con-job has become a career…
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Con-job has become a career in Kenya. They are the most highly paid profession in Kenya.
Facilitation money is a…
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Facilitation money is a bribe meaning those conned are committing a crime too. They should all be arrested and charged. Bure Kabisa.
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