Kenyan Court Orders Public Inquiry into Sh30.7 Million Theft from Elderly Employer's Account

On September 11, 2024, a Kenyan court mandated a public inquiry to investigate how two domestic workers allegedly stole over Sh 30.7 million from the bank account of their elderly, now-deceased employer.

Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi instructed the Banking Fraud Investigation Unit (BFIU) of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the unauthorized withdrawal of funds from Wanjui's Absa Bank account. The court has allocated three months for the police to complete their investigation, which will involve extensive travel across various Kenyan cities and towns. Investigators will record witness statements and analyze CCTV footage from petrol stations where Wanjui's credit card was purportedly used.

Magistrate Ekhubi concluded the miscellaneous file after being informed by law enforcement that additional time was required to ascertain how Felistas Nyambura and James Wachira, the domestic workers in question, allegedly accessed the funds using their employer's credit card. CPL Wandera, who is leading the investigation, has stated that his team would meticulously examine numerous documents from Absa Bank Kenya to trace the movement of the money and identify the beneficiaries. State Prosecutor Virginia Kariuki supports the police's request for an extension, emphasizing the case's complexity and the necessity for thorough investigations to ensure justice is served.

Nyambura and Wachira, who had been employed by the Wanjui family for 21 years, were remanded on September 12, 2014, to allow for the completion of the police investigation. The alleged card fraud is believed to have occurred over a two-year period between 2022 and 2024, with investigations extending to Meru, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Nairobi. The case came to light on September 3, 2024, when CBK's Banking Fraud Investigations Unit officers discovered an unauthorized withdrawal from Wanjui's account at Absa Bank of Kenya PLC. The late Wanjui's wife informed their daughter Joyce Ann Muthoni Wanjui about the arrest of their domestic worker and family driver for allegedly misappropriating Sh706,000 from her credit card.

The CBK has been actively working to combat banking fraud with the BFIU playing a crucial role in investigating and preventing such crimes. The unit collaborates with various financial institutions to monitor suspicious activities and maintain the integrity of the banking system. In recent years, there has been an uptick in reported cases of financial fraud with criminals employing increasingly sophisticated methods to exploit weaknesses in the banking system. In response, the CBK has implemented several measures to enhance security including stricter regulations, improved surveillance, and increased public awareness campaigns.