Trader Allegedly Swindles Parent of Sh9M in Fake US University Slots Scam

A city businesswoman has been charged with defrauding a parent of Sh9.2 million by falsely claiming she would facilitate her two children in securing slots at two US universities.

Edith Akinyi Halwenge was charged before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego with defrauding Pauline Njeri Njuguna of Sh9, 227,700 over a span of two years.

Akinyi was accused of deceitfully receiving the money on various dates between August 19, 2021, and October 14, 2023, in Nairobi.

She denied defrauding Pauline Njeri Njuguna of the substantial amount, allegedly to facilitate Melvin Ndung’u Mathenge and Patricia Nduku Kimanthi in securing university positions at Illinois and Las Vegas Universities in the US, respectively.

The charge stated that Akinyi knew she was not in a position to facilitate the two students in pursuing higher education in the US.

Akinyi applied for release on bond, stating that she had been unable to attend court when required to plead because she and her child had fallen ill.

She further disclosed that her child had since passed away and that she had been in mourning when she was next required to appear.

“I have visited the arresting police station 10 times to establish when I should appear in court, but I was not informed as the investigating officer was said to be away,” Akinyi told the magistrate.

She requested to be released on reasonable cash bail, adding that she had previously been out on police cash bail of Sh100, 000.

The magistrate inquired from the prosecution, led by State counsel James Gachoka, whether the investigating officer had handed over the police cash bail to the accused before she took the plea.

It emerged that the investigating officer was not in court and that the police cash bail had not been produced.

The magistrate also heard that the money was still in police custody.

However, the prosecutor committed to following up on the issue of the cash bail with the officer.

The magistrate then ordered that the cash bail be refunded to the accused.

The prosecution did not oppose the accused’s release on bond.

The magistrate granted Akinyi’s bail plea, releasing her on a bond of Sh1 million with an alternative cash bail of Sh200, 000 plus three contact persons.

The matter will be mentioned on March 6, 2025, for pre-trial and directions.