Four arrested over multi-million ‘Uwezo Fund’ fraud

Police have arrested four young men who have defrauded unsuspecting Kenyans millions of shillings under the guise they would facilitate access to Uwezo Funds loans.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the suspects created a website similar to that of Uwezo Fund, uwezofund.org, and have been using the name of First Lady Margaret Kenyatta to cheat their victims into sending Ksh 500 as an application fee for loan processing.

Those arrested are Collins Kiptanui, Joakim Kibet, Domnic Kimutai and Brian Kiplagat. They all hail from Nandi county but were nabbed in Roysambu, Nairobi. They would face stealing and electronic fraud charges.

On the website, the four claim to have delivered personal loans of up to Ksh 100,000 to over 600,000  people in Kenya with a range of payment options.

“The amount approved will be sent via MPESA within 30 minutes of application.This amount is based on your previous credit history as well as your usage of Mobile Money services like MPESA,” the site adds.

It even includes purported testimonials from Public Service and Youth Chief Administrative Secretary Rachel Shebesh and two alleged past beneficiaries to back up their scheme.

Meanwhile, detectives working on intelligence arrested two women in Thika for drugging unsuspecting victims before robbing them off. Several Stilnox tablets used to stupefy people in clubs and several SIM cards recovered.

“The SIM cards which were registered in different names are believed to have been used to withdraw money from the victims Bank accounts. The two suspects will be arraigned in court on Monday,” DCI said on Twitter.

The two, Mary Nyaguthii Mathari and Mary Nyamwea Gathiaka, will be charged with the offence of stealing and stupefying.