How Kenyan Woman Was Allegedly Scammed Sh25 Million Using Odinga's Name

Kenyan businesswoman Faith Mwikali Ndiwa finds herself embroiled in a complex fraud case that unravels a tangled web of deception, forgery, and financial manipulation.

The charges against her stem from an alleged scheme that duped a Nigerian investor, Jude Olabayo Veracruz, out of a staggering Sh25 million. According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), Ndiwa orchestrated the scheme through her companies, Ashley Dylan Limited and Faizel Limited. Allegedly, she convinced Veracruz that he had secured a contract to supply Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) to the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA). To substantiate her claims, Ndiwa is accused of forging a framework contract and an amendment to the agreement.

The deception did not end there. Ndiwa purportedly spun an elaborate tale mentioning Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. She claimed that the LLINs contract was for Odinga's son-in-law, who had supposedly run out of funds and needed financing to complete the project. Veracruz was promised a profitable return after investing Sh25 million. Between June and December 2022, Ndiwa allegedly obtained the money from Veracruz under false pretences. She now faces eight counts, including forgery, falsifying contract documents, and obtaining money through deception.

Ndiwa denied all charges during her court appearance before Milimani Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi. The prosecution opposed her release on bond, citing the need for an affidavit detailing reasons for denying bail. Ndiwa's defence argued for her release, emphasizing her constitutional rights and claiming she posed no flight risk. However, Magistrate Shitubi ruled in favour of the prosecution, ordering Ndiwa's detention in Lang'ata Prison until Tuesday, May 28, 2024, for a bail hearing.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reveals that Ndiwa's arrest traces back to May 2022. At that time, she visited Guarantee Trust Bank, claiming to have Sh70 million in her account and seeking financial advice. The bank's CEO advised her, and she later returned with a different request, allegedly to pay her mother's medical bills. Ndiwa's tangled web extended further, as she claimed to represent Odinga's son-in-law, who had won a Sh19 million LLINs tender. Additionally, she presented herself as a physician for the Kenyan First Lady in another case.