Sleuths attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations arrested three people yesterday for impersonating family members of President William Ruto and other senior officials in the government.
In a statement, dated Sunday, DCI said that the impersonators had been operating social media accounts using the names of the first lady Ms. Rachael Ruto and different senior officials.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s wife Ms. Dorcas and Chief Justice Ms. Martha Koome were not spared by the impersonators. The DCI have warned Kenyans to be aware of quite a number of false social media accounts that are in existence, particularly on Facebook.
Referring to the team as crooks, the DCI said that the suspects opened countless fake accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The announcement published indicated that the suspects have been obtaining cash through false pretenses from unsuspecting members of the public.
The suspected fraudsters have been duping Kenyans that they are in a position to assist them get jobs within the government.
Mr. Michael Wekesa, 19, was identified as the first suspect who opened a fake account used it to lure Kenyans that he was able to give out loans saying that he was working in the office of Ms. Ruto.
“He posed as a loans officer and he went ahead to obtain money from determined Kenyans, who approached him for assistance,” the declaration in addition revealed. Mr. Wekesa then issued a cellphone number where Kenyans despatched in cash with the hope that they will get interest-free loans.
The victims realised that they had been duped into the offers when the suspect failed to honor his promise and failed to reply their calls.
Another suspect who was nabbed was recognized as Mr. Isaac Oduor who opened a fake call center that he used to get hold of calls from unsuspecting Kenyans. He had three mobile phones that he used inside his fake call center.
Mr. Denis Kimaru, a scholar at Kirinyaga University was also arrested and the DCI said that he ran several social media fake accounts bearing the names; Mzalendo Kimaru, Mzalendo Kym Korir, Obuntu family, and in the identify of Head of State Aide-Camp Col Fabian Lesungura.
The DCI had arrested other suspects before a This is not the first time. However, more suspects will be arrested in the coming days.
