DCI Responds To Arrest Of 7 Officers Linked To Ruto’s Office, Charged With Fraud
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has dismissed reports alleging that seven government officials working in President William Ruto’s office were arrested.
In a press statement on Friday, March 20, DCI Director Corporate Communications John Marete clarified that the individuals arrested on March 10, 2026, were not employees of the government, contrary to widespread public speculations.
Marete emphasised that the suspects were external actors who had orchestrated a scheme by impersonating senior officials from three ministries.
According to the detectives, the suspects posed as representatives from the Ministries of Interior, National Treasury and Health and had used false identities to lure foreign investors.
The DCI revealed that the suspects went ahead to promise the two foreigners lucrative government tenders, including a fictitious deal involving the supply of Toyota ambulances.
“The detectives had earlier established that the fraudulent scheme commenced on January 10, 2026, when one of the foreigners received an unsolicited WhatsApp message from a Kenyan,” the DCI noted.
Victims were later invited to Kenya by the suspects and received at the airport and later escorted to Harambee House, where the Ministry of Interior offices are located.
“A female accomplice facilitated illegal entry past security checkpoints,” the detectives revealed.
“The victim was taken to a conference room located on the 5th floor and was introduced to individuals posing as representatives of Treasury and the Ministry of Health.”
Adding, “He was presented with forged tender documents, including a fake pre-qualification certificate purportedly signed by the Head of Procurement and the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Interior.”
The suspects went ahead to solicit hundreds of thousands of dollars from unsuspecting investors, with the payment requested under the guise of facilitation fees, insurance costs, and tender processing charges.
“The fraudsters offered two packages: Ksh11.5 million for a single five-year business opportunity or Ksh14.1 million for multiple opportunities over the same period,” the DCI said.
According to the DCI, the victim opted for the higher package and transferred Ksh14.1 million on January 30, 2026, from a sister company in China to a Kenyan law firm.
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On February 11, 2026, an additional Ksh46.4 million was transferred to the same account under the pretext of insurance, bringing the total funds fraudulently obtained to Ksh60.6 million.
At the time of arrest, the fraudsters were pressing for a further Ksh139 million in instalments, prompting the victims to return to Kenya for further negotiations.
Upon arrival, they were again taken to a 12th-floor boardroom where they met suspects who were later arrested.
The seven suspects have since been arraigned in court and charged with multiple offences.
This includes conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretences, forgery, and handling the proceeds of crime.
DCI Responds To Arrest Of 7 Officers Linked To Ruto’s Office, Charged With Fraud
