Kiambu launches mapping of informal settlements to improve service delivery (with security/settlement tie-in)

In a decisive operation, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has dismantled a mobile‑money fraud ring that conned a victim out of Sh 250,000, following a carefully coordinated security sweep in Nairobi and Kiambu County. The seven suspects, including four men and three women, were arrested after detectives traced them through unregistered SIM cards and illicit transactions. According to the DCI, two of the men — Moses Munene Mwangi and Lephines Mwangi Mwai — had registered several SIM cards used to siphon funds, while the three women allegedly lured the victim with spiked drinks. DCI Kenya
The saga began when the victim reported that his M-Pesa and bank accounts had been drained, prompting him to file a complaint at Kiamumbi Police Station. DCI detectives swiftly opened an investigation at their Serious Crimes office, which led to arrests across different parts of Nairobi. On February 21, the two primary suspects were picked up in Kahawa West. The three women were later apprehended in Githurai 44, and two other male suspects, believed to have wired part of the stolen sum, were arrested in Ruiru, Kiambu County. DCI Kenya The three women are tied to about Sh 110,000 of the fraud, while the remaining amount is linked to fraudulent transfers via MPesa and a Forex money-market account. DCI Kenya
Public reaction has been largely supportive, with many praising the DCI for its speed and precision. Cybersecurity experts see the bust as a reminder of how vulnerable mobile money platforms can be to social engineering attacks when paired with physical deception. Victims of similar scams are being encouraged to report incidents through the Fichua Kwa DCI toll‑free hotline to prevent further exploitation. DCI Kenya+2DCI Kenya+2
Looking ahead, this case could signal a new wave of similar investigations. The DCI has reiterated its commitment to going after syndicates that use both high-tech tools and old-school tactics to steal from unsuspecting Kenyans. With mobile money still deeply embedded in daily life, authorities plan to strengthen collaboration with telecommunication companies to ensure more robust identity verification for SIM registration, in hopes of preventing such fraud rings from resurfacing.