Officers drawn from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Thursday arrested a middle-aged man posing as former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko's employee in a bid to scam unsuspecting Kenyans online.
Detectives traced the suspect to Riokindo Ward, Kenyenya Sub-County in Kisii, where they recovered a handset he had been using to send enticing messages to vulnerable targets. Several SIM cards were also seized.
The 29-year-old was also accused of impersonating Sonko by stealing his identity to run multiple social media pages.
"He obtained thousands of shillings from unsuspecting members of the public in an educational loan advance bluff has been arrested by detectives," read part of a statement by DCI.
The suspect was nabbed after the former Governor lodged a complaint at the Capitol Hill Police Station in Nairobi where he reported several Facebook accounts suspected to be operated by the suspect.
According to a report by detectives, the accused claimed to be working with the Sonko Rescue Team and pretended to offer help to needy parents with school fees challenges.
In the well-orchestrated scam, the accused would author messages that required interested individuals to pay Ksh1,000 for interest-free advance loans.
Applicants also had to send their ID numbers, full names, locations, and further state the purpose of the loan.
"However, after receiving the registration fees, the suspect would shift briskly from a persistent caller to the aphoristic, "Patience pays"," the detectives noted.
"DCI Nairobi Area Crime Research and Intelligence Unit team which traced him to his village is processing him before his arraignment on Friday, Jan 19."
The arrest comes against the backdrop of constant complaints by the ex-governor about individuals using his name to con online users.
"These scammers, they con people using my name have become too much, and I hereby declare that through the help of DCI and other government investigative agencies, we are coming for you. Enough is enough. Your days are numbered," Sonko lamented on January 10. By