2 arrested in Ksh6.5M Kilimani cryptocurrency scam targeting Chinese investor
Police have arrested two suspects accused of swindling a Chinese national out of Ksh6.5 million in a cryptocurrency scam, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced in a statement on Friday, February 28, 2025.
According to police, the two posed as cryptocurrency exchange experts, luring their victim into a fraudulent transaction on February 20, 2025, at Rose Gardens in Kileleshwa.
As the victim handed over cash for conversion into cryptocurrency, one of the suspects made a swift escape with the money, slipping through a backdoor with a carrier bag.
Meanwhile, the other suspect remained behind, assuring the victim that the transaction was proceeding and attributing delays to network issues.
As hours passed with no sign of the promised cryptocurrency, the victim realized he had been deceived and reported the case to Kileleshwa Police Station.
Detectives launched an immediate investigation, using forensic leads to track down and arrest Benson Macharia, who was arraigned before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kibera on February 25.
He pleaded not guilty and was released on a Ksh1 million bail with a surety of the same amount.
“Through forensic leads, the first suspect, Macharia was arrested and arraigned before the Chief Magistrate’s Court Kibera on February 25, 2025, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges and was subsequently released on a Sh1 million bail, with a surety of similar amount,” DCI said.
The search for the second suspect Robinson Okwemo Nyandoro continued until February 27, when detectives apprehended him at The Hub Karen shopping mall.
A subsequent search of his residence in KMA Estate, Lang’ata, led to the recovery of Ksh500,000, suspected to be part of the stolen money.
Nyandoro was arraigned before the Kibera court on Friday, February 28, 2025, where he also pleaded not guilty.
He remains in custody at Industrial Area Prison, awaiting a bond determination hearing scheduled for March 4, 2025.
DCI’s statement urged the public to exercise caution in cryptocurrency transactions, emphasizing the risks of dealing with unverified individuals.
“Clever schemes may dazzle, but detectives have proven they’re always a step ahead,” the agency noted.
Cryptocurrency fraud has been on the rise in Kenya, mirroring a global trend of digital financial crimes. Authorities continue to warn investors about the dangers of engaging in informal and unregulated exchanges.
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