4 in custody after Ksh105K fake prison vegetable tender swindle
Four individuals have been arrested in Kitui after orchestrating a fake Kenya Prisons Service tender that saw a businessman lose Ksh105,000.
In a statement shared by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Saturday, December 6, 2025, detectives from Kitui Central had been monitoring the group for several weeks after receiving information about the fraudulent vegetable supply deal for Kitui GK Prisons.
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“Kitui Central detectives have arrested four smooth-talking pretenders who perfected the art of sounding official while being anything but, fleecing a businessman of Sh105,000 in a fictitious Kenya Prisons Service tender. According to investigators, the quartet rolled out their con with the confidence of seasoned actors, posing as senior Kenya Prison officers, promising the victim a lucrative deal to supply vegetables to Kitui GK Prisons. By the time the victim’s intuition whispered “something is off,” his cash had already taken a walk, never to return,” the statement read in part.
The individuals posed as senior Kenya Prisons officers, convincing the businessman that he had secured a lucrative contract. By the time he realised something was wrong, the money had already been taken.
The four were tracked down inside a black Toyota Harrier, which authorities believe was used during the operation. A search of the vehicle uncovered 37 fake Kenya Prisons Service tender approval forms, two forged Kenya Prisons job identification cards, eight mobile phones, and six ID cards belonging to different people, all part of a well-coordinated scheme.
“But detectives, who had been quietly trailing their theatrics for weeks, were not about to let the show run too long. In a swift action, they cornered the suspects, Clement Wachira, Andrew Kimani, Ann Waweru, and Rehema Makandi inside a black Toyota Harrier (KCV 543W),” the DCI statement read.
Adding
“A vehicle that, frankly, looked every inch the getaway chariot for their leafy-greens heist. A meticulous search turned up their toolkit of deception: 37 fake Kenya Prisons Service tender approval forms, two fake Kenya Prison Service job IDs, eight mobile phones, six ID cards belonging to different individuals, all the makings of a well-oiled con machine.”
The individuals are now in custody and will appear in court as investigations continue. Authorities are also working to determine whether other members of the public were targeted by this “vegetable tender” operation.
“Now cooling their heels in custody, the four are preparing to swap their fake Kenya Prison Service documents for very real court appearances. Meanwhile, detectives are digging deeper, determined to establish whether more Kenyans fell victim to this “vegetable tender” cartel.”
