Detectives in Kilimani have arrested two suspects accused of defrauding a Chinese national Ksh 6.5 million in a cryptocurrency scam on February 20, 2025.
The suspects, Benson Macharia and Robinson Okwemo Nyandoro, allegedly posed as cryptocurrency exchange experts to lure their victim into the fraudulent deal at Rose Gardens in Kileleshwa.
According to police reports, the suspects promised to facilitate the exchange of cash into cryptocurrency. However, during the transaction, Nyandoro allegedly fled with the money in a carrier bag through a backdoor, leaving his accomplice, Macharia, behind with the victim. Macharia then convinced the victim that the transaction had gone through but was delayed due to network issues.
When hours passed without confirmation, the victim realized he had been conned and reported the matter at Kileleshwa Police Station.
Detectives launched investigations and tracked down Macharia, arresting him on February 25, 2025. He was arraigned before the Kibera Chief Magistrate’s Court, where he pleaded not guilty and was released on a Ksh 1 million bail with a surety of the same amount.
The search for Nyandoro continued, leading to his arrest at The Hub Karen on February 27, 2025. He later led detectives to his residence in KMA Estate, Lang’ata, where police recovered Ksh 500,000 believed to be part of the stolen money.
Nyandoro was arraigned in court today, where he pleaded not guilty. He has been detained at Industrial Area Prison as the court determines his bond terms on March 4, 2025.
Police have urged the public to exercise caution when dealing with cryptocurrency transactions to avoid falling victim to fraudsters.
