Equity Bank Heist Suspect Held Captive in Forest with Roaring Lions and Cackling Hyenas

Joseph Kimari Machiri, the father of the prime suspect in the Equity Bank's Sh1.5 billion heist, was abducted by armed individuals during a raid on his home which was captured on CCTV cameras.

Mr Kimari, a former Member of the County Assembly (MCA) for Murang'a County, was forcibly taken from his home by armed assailants disguised as police officers on August 11. This abduction occurred just hours after his son David Machiri, the bank's manager at the Group Processing Centre, was also abducted from his home in Thogoto, Kiambu County. David, 39, is believed to have used his credentials to facilitate the massive theft from Equity Bank on July 10. Mr Kimari was released two days later on August 13 after receiving threats from his captors to refrain from speaking to the media or divulging any details about his ordeal.

Speaking briefly after his release, Mr Kimari expresses gratitude for his safety but has declined to recount the terrifying details of his captivity. He recalls being transported to an unknown forest where he could hear lions roaring and hyenas laughing. The circumstances of the abductions have led to widespread speculation about the involvement of law enforcement and potential misconduct within the criminal investigation framework. A family source reveals that Mr Kimari was returned home in a convoy of more than five cars, often utilized by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The family has raised concerns about the professionalism and intent behind the abduction.

In the wake of the bank heist, the family’s concerns have increasingly directed attention to the legal implications of the case, particularly regarding the vulnerability of whistleblowers and suspects in high-stakes fraud cases. Their legal representative Mr Ndegwa Njiru has called for accountability from authorities, emphasizing that the current situation is indicative of a disturbing trend in Kenyan law enforcement. David Machiri had previously faced charges related to fraud where reports indicated that during his leave, over 47 transactions were executed using his credentials, amounting to an astonishing Sh1,545,887,140.49, all illicitly funnelled into various accounts across different banks.

During the initial investigation, the internal control unit at Equity Bank had flagged the series of suspicious transactions from the bank’s payroll account, prompting a swift response from the authorities. The inquiry intensified following the shocking revelations with detectives noting the absence of corresponding credits for the large withdrawals which raised immediate red flags. Prompted by the internal controls team, the bank reported the issue to the Banking Fraud Investigation Unit at the DCI on July 11. However, when detectives sought an extended detention of Machiri to facilitate deeper investigations, the court released him on bail, only for him to be abducted shortly after. As investigations escalated, the DCI's Banking Fraud Investigations Unit was directed to relocate its efforts to the DCI headquarters for heightened oversight.