DPP seeks to detain university student linked with hacking, siphoning millions from betting firm
By Zipporah Ngwatu, September 2, 2025The Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) is seeking to detain a university student, Seth Mwabe Okwanyo, for 20 days to complete investigations on a case of unauthorised access to section 14(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act.
According to a Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer attached to the Banking Fraud Investigations Unit, Julius Cheruiyot, Mwabe is being investigated over access with intent to commit further offences contrary to Section 15(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
Further, Cheruiyot states that the university student is also being investigated for stealing contrary to section 268(1) as read with section 275 of the Penal Code.
Appearing before Milimani Principal Magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi on Monday, September 1, 2025, the DPP, through a miscellaneous application, told the court that they want to detain the respondent (Mwabe) for 20 days to submit his electronic gadgets for forensic examinations.
“The investigations are ongoing, and we need to subject the electronics we seized from him, which include computers, internet routers, phone motherboards and mobile phones, to forensic examinations,” Officer Cheruiyot told the court.
The prosecution also wants to obtain user information and evidence from Telegram and Starlink companies, which they say operate outside the Kenyan jurisdiction.
They also want to obtain relevant documents, especially M-PESA and bank account statements, as well as bank account opening documents from mobile phone service providers and banks which are part of their investigations.
Notably, they stated that the university student is a flight risk; thus, there is a need to detain him until investigations are over.
However, the defence team vehemently opposed the prosecution’s application, arguing that their client is not a flight risk and he has a known abode.
“Our client is not a flight risk, and his place of abode is well known; we urge the court to release him on a reasonable bail or bond,” the defence team told the court.
Mwabe was arrested on August 30, 2025, at about 2 pm in his apartment within Tatu City in relation to the offences of unauthorised access contrary to section 14(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
This came after Afrisend Money Transfer Limited wrote a letter to the Director of the Banking Fraud Investigations Unit on August 25, 2025, alleging that on July 16, 2025, a total of 38 fraudulent transactions were initiated through a local bank.
Further, the complainant stated that a total of Ksh11,410,165 was fraudulently transferred, bypassing the internal systems’ transaction visibility and control.
Magistrate Ekhubi will rule on the respondent’s (Mwabe) bail application on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.