Shadowy Individuals Behind Major Scams In Govt Offices

Questions have now emerged over possible existence of a deep-rooted web of fraud syndicate operating in high offices of top government honchos sparking fears shadowy individuals could be involved in identifying their-would be victims, offering protection and sharing the loot stolen from unsuspecting local and foreign investors.

Reports reveal that one of the suspects arrested together with the Director of Prime Cabinet Secretary Press Service Salim Swaleh Abdallah had been involved in another multi-million fake laptop supply tender to State House, office of the then Deputy President William Ruto and the Department of Defence (DoD).

James William Makokha alias Major George Nyapindi who appears to have gained notoriety in the underworld dealings was among the suspects who conned Charles Gathii, the director Microhouse Technologies, in a fake laptop tender.

The matter is pending before courts.

The six will today spend the night at Capitol Hill Police Station police cells after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) filed an application seeking orders to temporarily detain the six.

They include Swaleh, Otieno Japolo Michael, Terry Kemunto Sese, Daniel Omondi Gogo, John Musundi Wabomba and James William Mokoha.

The court will tomorrow, Tuesday June 25, 2024 rule on whether they will be detained for 14 days to allow for investigations into fraudulent activities.

The Investigating Officer (IO) in this case informed court the six were arrested on Saturday at the Office Prime Cabinet Secretary in Nairobi after they allegedly lured foreign investors in the country with the aim of securing a tender to construct two stadia for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Games.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania the hosting rights for this tournament.

It’s alleged that upon entering the said office, Swaleh paved way for the investors allowing the other respondents to hold a meeting with the foreigners where Otieno Japolo Micheal personated himself as the chairman of the Government Delivery Unit at the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, and promised to assist the United Arab Emirates (UAE) national to speed up the alleged tender.

Prosecution counsel James Gachoka told court the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are investigating offences of Conspiracy to commit a felony, attempt to obtain money by false pretence, personating a person employed in the Public Service, and abuse of office.

Gachoka urged court to grant the investigating officer 14 days to allow him complete the investigations before the respondents are charged in court.

According to the investigations reports the respondents were to part with Sh5,850,000 as registration fee before securing the tender. Senior Principal magistrate Benmark Ekhubi will make a ruling on this applicable tomorrow, Tuesday June 25, 2024.

Before their arrest over the weekend, Swaleh, Makokha and four other suspects are said to have lured the unsuspecting victims from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) based Nexor- Emea Engineering Consultancy, into the country.

According to preliminary police investigations, the suspects then told the foreigners that they were in a position to influence the award of tender for the construction of two additional stadia to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

In this latest case, according to police investigations, Makokha presented himself as the chairman of Government Delivery Unit, according to a preliminary report by the DCI’s Operation Support Unit (OSU).

“This deception also meant switching legitimate name tags with fake ones on office doors to advance the scams.” Peter Warutere, the Secretary, Strategic Communication at Musalia Mudavadi’s office Peter said.

Warutere added that the cabal of fraudsters and government officers facilitated their operations at the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs (OPCS-MFDA) at Kenya Railways office.

“Further investigations by relevant law enforcement agencies are ongoing to track and arrest other conspirators who may have been involved.” He said.

Warutere said the arrests followed a tipoff that alerted OPCS-MFDA security, who then mounted intense surveillance at the Railways Office to disrupt the reported nefarious acts of impersonation and misuse of the facility by the fraudsters.

According to OPCS-MFDA, the surveillance involved tracking a group masquerading as visitors.

They would individually gain entrance into the Railways Building on different dates and times by falsifying their identities, as VIP guests or Government Officers, and the officers they purported to be visiting.

“Their victims were mainly foreigners who would be shepherded into the Railways Building ostensibly to meet high ranking Government officers for favours in exchange of bribes.” He said.

He added that the surveillance was able to also track and identify their co-conspirators, among them Government officers who facilitated their dastardly activities.

“Those arrested include Salim Swaleh, Director of OPCS Press Service, in whose office the swindlers were found nested with fake door switch-nametags.” Warutere added.

Preliminary investigations further revealed that the government officers arrested had perfected “renting” office space to criminals by either vacating their offices for the fraudsters use, or deceptively misrepresenting themselves.

“Upon being smoked out in one of the OPCS-MFDA Railway offices where the confidence tricksters had settled in wait for their victims on Saturday, the group had the audacity of attempting to bribe their way out.” He said.

James William Makokha alias Major George Nyapindi alongside Eric Otieno alias Colonel Koech, Fredrick Mangala Muhanji alias Douglas Simiyu and Joy Wangari Kamau alias Patricia Mareka were charged before a Kiambu Law Court and arrest warrants issued against them in connection to a 2018 fake tender case involving the National Intelligence Service (NIS), State House, the then Deputy President’s Office and Americans.

The key complainant Charles Gathii Ng’ang’a told court the case has dragged for too long since 2018 without being heard.

Adjournments were made after Wangari feigning sickness and insanity, he said.

“I had to take an early discharge from Nairobi Hospital as I am recuperating from dislocation of the spinal cord so that I can testify. The matter is of 2018 and every time it is the accused Wangari who does not appear, hence prompting adjournment. I appeal to the court to allow the matter to proceed.” Gathii told the court.

The four accused denied obtaining Sh40 million from Gathii by falsely pretending that they were in a position to award tender to supply military surveillance system complete with equipment and logistical support.

They also denied making a false document without authority purporting it to be a genuine valid tender document for the supply of security equipment for maritime surveillance for the State Department of Defence.

They are also accused of forging a tender document signed by the alleged State House agent.

The accused denied stealing and obtaining 1,200 HP laptops all valued at Sh96 million belonging to Gathii in a false tender number STHSE/SUPLS/0451-404/2017-2018/SH which were to be supplied to State House.

In 2018 unsuspecting Kenyans lost millions of their hard earned money after they were lured into fake government tenders orchestrated through collusion of rogue government staff in the Office of Deputy President, State House and DoD.

The fake multi-million-shilling tenders reportedly came with complete documentations and targeted victims were invited for meetings inside these government offices to win their confidence.