Directorate of Criminal Investigations detectives have arraigned a suspected cybercriminal accused of orchestrating a massive digital fraud scheme that cost several financial institutions more than Sh 52 million.
The suspect, identified as Albert Komen Kipkechem, who is also known by the alias Jonathan Kiptum Barmasai, appeared before the Milimani Law Courts where he faced charges related to unauthorized access to computer systems and computer fraud under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act No. 5 of 2018.
Investigators say the suspect is linked to two major cyber incidents reported in June 2025 involving a payment service provider, a local bank, and a SACCO. The attacks allegedly led to the loss of more than Sh 52 million.
Following the discovery of the suspicious transactions, the affected institutions filed complaints with the Economic and Commercial Crimes Unit attached to the Cyber Fusion Unit at the Central Bank of Kenya. Detectives immediately launched investigations and recorded statements from key personnel.
Authorities say the probe involved collaboration with forensic specialists from the National Forensic Laboratory and the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau. Preliminary findings indicated that the suspect allegedly used remote access software to infiltrate internal payment platforms and banking systems.
Investigators believe the suspect manipulated the systems to process unauthorized transactions that bypassed the institutions’ standard payment procedures before the fraud was detected.
After securing court orders and search warrants, detectives tracked down and arrested the suspect in the Thome area of Nairobi. Officers later escorted him to his residence in Nakuru County, where they recovered several items believed to be linked to the alleged fraud.
Among the items seized were electronic devices, suspected fake identification documents, a money counting machine, cash in Kenyan currency, multiple SIM cards from different telecom providers, and ATM cards registered under other individuals’ names.
Police also recovered a Congolese passport bearing the suspect’s photograph but registered under a different identity, along with a Congolese national identification card carrying the same name.
The suspect denied the charges in court and was remanded at Capitol Hill Police Station pending further directions on bail and bond terms scheduled for March 12, 2026.