Two suspects have been arrested and arraigned in court for allegedly defrauding five Kenyan businessmen of Ksh 22.4 million through a fake World Food Program (WFP) tender scheme. Detectives from the Nairobi Regional Headquarters tracked down and apprehended Teresia Wanjiku Boru and Hosea Munge Mbugu, who are accused of orchestrating an elaborate scam in January 2024.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Munge convinced the businessmen, operating at City Market, that Wanjiku had secured a high-value WFP contract to supply edible oil to Kakuma Refugee Camp. Enticed by the promise of lucrative returns, the victims were persuaded to invest substantial amounts of money in the deal.
To lend credibility to their scheme, the fraudsters arranged a staged trip to Eldoret, where the businessmen met individuals posing as WFP officials. A fake contract was signed, and once funds were exchanged, the fraudsters disappeared without a trace, leaving their victims in financial ruin.
Following an intensive forensic-led investigation, detectives successfully tracked down Wanjiku in Narumoru and Munge in Nairobi, leading to their arrest. They were arraigned in court, where Wanjiku was denied bond due to an outstanding warrant related to a previous court case in which she failed to appear. Munge was granted a bond of Ksh 900,000 with a similar surety or a cash bail option of Ksh 400,000.
The DCI has urged other potential victims of the fraudulent scheme to come forward and report their cases at the DCI Nairobi Region Headquarters. The public has also been advised to use the FichuaKwaDCI toll-free number, 0800 722 203, to provide any relevant information regarding similar fraudulent activities.
The case highlights the increasing sophistication of financial fraud schemes in Kenya and the need for heightened vigilance among business owners and investors. Authorities continue to warn against engaging in transactions without thorough verification of contract legitimacy, especially in high-value tenders involving reputable international organizations.
Investigations are ongoing as law enforcement agencies work to bring the suspects to justice and recover the defrauded funds.
