How IMEI Tracking Helped Kenyan Police Trace and Arrest Lesotho Minister’s Grandson

Samuel Ngungi Hlutwa, the grandson of Lesotho’s Minister for Law and Justice Richard Ramoeletsi, has been detained in Kenya over allegations of involvement in a mobile money fraud case and is currently being held at Athi River Police Station.

The 22-year-old was arrested last week after detectives linked him to a disputed mobile money transaction involving about Sh60,000. The complaint was filed by a woman who reported that the money was transferred from her account following a call from an unknown person.

Police traced the number used in the transaction and found it was registered to a woman believed to be associated with Mr Hlutwa. That woman has since gone missing, prompting investigators to expand their inquiries.

Attention then turned to the mobile phone used in the transaction. Investigators examined its IMEI number and established that the device had changed hands and was now in Mr Hlutwa’s possession. This finding led to his arrest and detention.

Questions later emerged over Mr Hlutwa’s identity and nationality. He was born in Lesotho to a Kenyan father and a Sotho mother and holds dual citizenship. He moved to Kenya in 2022 to study aviation. However, when he was booked at Athi River Police Station, police records listed him only as a Kenyan Kikuyu male, without noting his foreign nationality.

The omission caused confusion, as separate inquiries were reportedly underway regarding a missing foreign national. Diplomatic channels were initially unable to confirm his whereabouts until relatives identified him at the police station, bringing his dual citizenship to light.

Mr Hlutwa appeared in court on Monday, 19 January, where police applied to hold him for seven days to allow further investigations. The magistrate approved the request, citing concerns that he may have worked with the fugitive female suspect. He is under investigation for obtaining money by false pretences and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Athi River Sub-County Police Commander David Kandie said the suspect did not disclose his foreign citizenship at the time of arrest. He added that police would follow directions from the court on how to proceed and were seeking to understand why the information was not provided earlier.

Separately, Minister Ramoeletsi has alleged that police officers demanded money in exchange for his grandson’s release. The police have not publicly responded to the claim, which remains unverified.

Mr Hlutwa remains in custody as investigations continue. The court is expected to review the case next week.