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Kamiti Maximum Security Prison is under tight surveillance after a criminal allegedly masterminded a Ksh7.6 million fraud.
Hesbon Onyango Nyamweya, who is currently serving a life sentence for desecration of public property, is accused of masterminding a complex fraud scheme from behind bars, reportedly defrauding businesswoman Purity Karambu Laird through a fake land deal.
The fraud came to light when Ms Laird reported she had been defrauded of Ksh7.6 million by a man who claimed to own a prime piece of land for sale. DCI Major Crimes detectives identified Nyamweya as the mastermind behind the scam.
The findings raise concerns about possible collusion or negligence among prison staff and question the effectiveness of security measures designed to prevent prisoners from engaging in illegal activity while incarcerated.
Despite his imprisonment, Nyamwea continued to communicate with Laird for seven months, leading her to believe he could facilitate a non-existent land sale.
From May 1, 2020, to September 17, 2020, Nyamwea maintained telephone contact with Laird, gained her trust, and presented herself as a legitimate land seller. Laird, unaware that she was dealing with a criminal, transferred funds to the account provided by Nyamwea.
Investigators said that after the transaction, Nyamweya transferred the funds to his elderly mother, Pamela Akinyi Wara, in instalments over nearly five months. Wara then used the money to buy properties in Ongata Rongai, Lang’ata and Migori counties.
Investigators also revealed that Wala was using some of the funds to build a multi-million shillings home in Ongata Rongai.
Wala appeared before the Milimani Court on Friday, where he faces charges of conspiracy to commit a felony, theft and handling stolen goods under Section 322 (1) of the Penal Code. The charge sheet states that “Wala conspired with others who have not appeared in court, and Hesbon Onyango Nyamwea who is serving a sentence at Kamiti Maximum Prison, to commit a felony, specifically the theft of the property of Priti Kalambu Laird to the amount of Sh7,656,500.”
Vara, looking frail, pleaded not guilty to the charges, claiming she had no idea where the money came from and believed she had earned it legally.
However, prosecutors argued that Wala was fully aware of the frauds and played a major role in laundering the money through real estate investments. They urged the court to issue a summons to bring Nyamwea to court to face the charges along with his mother.
Magistrate Shitubi stressed the seriousness of the allegations and stressed the need for a thorough investigation and holding all parties involved to account. Wara was released on bail of Ksh2 million and is due to return to court on September 5 for further proceedings.
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