By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, 4 July 2026 - Detectives have arrested eight suspects allegedly involved in a sophisticated SIM swap fraud scheme that led to the theft of more than KSh 1.2 million from an M-Pesa agent in Marsabit County.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspects were intercepted at the Merille Barrier in Marsabit South while travelling in a white Toyota Probox, registration number KDN 708Q, following intelligence linking them to the crime.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects posed as customers at an M-Pesa shop in Marsabit Town, where they allegedly deceived the operator into surrendering the M-Pesa SIM card.
The DCI said the fraudsters then conducted an unauthorised SIM swap, enabling them to gain access to the complainant's linked bank account before transferring more than Sh1.2 million.
The eight suspects have been identified as Benrodgers Kyalo, Evans Mbweli, Patrick Vundi, Emily Mwende, Josephine Kasiva, Pius Mwenda, Alex Stima, and Jane Mueni.
They were escorted, together with the vehicle they were travelling in, to Marsabit Police Station, where they remain in custody as detectives continue with investigations ahead of their arraignment.
The arrests come amid increasing cases of SIM swap fraud targeting mobile money agents and customers across the country. Criminals typically exploit unsuspecting victims by obtaining temporary control of their mobile phone numbers, allowing them to access mobile banking and M-Pesa accounts linked to the SIM cards.
Following the arrests, the DCI cautioned M-Pesa agents and members of the public against handing over their SIM cards, mobile phones or M-Pesa handsets to customers under any circumstances.
The agency warned that fraudsters often operate in coordinated groups, with some members distracting agents while others execute the SIM swap or gain access to mobile money accounts.
Investigators urged agents to remain vigilant and treat any customer requesting to handle their phone or SIM card as a potential security risk, adding that such unusual requests should be considered a major red flag.
The DCI said investigations are ongoing to establish whether the suspects are linked to other similar fraud cases reported in different parts of the country.
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