Seth Mwabe, a 26-year-old former Meru University IT student, has become the face of one of Kenya’s most high-profile cybercrime cases. The university dropout, who now calls himself a cybersecurity engineer, is accused of hacking into a betting firm’s payment system and siphoning KSh 11.4 million.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) allege that Mwabe and possible accomplices manipulated a service provider’s systems in July 2025, diverting millions of shillings into accounts linked to him. After weeks of surveillance, officers arrested him on August 30 at his two-bedroom apartment in Tatu City, Kiambu County. Inside, they reportedly discovered a mini cyber lab, a safe, a money-counting machine, and several phones.
But Mwabe has strongly defended himself, insisting he is not a fraudster but a misunderstood tech mind. Speaking to investigators, he gave an unusual explanation:
“I didn’t steal. I was testing a new software I had engineered, and money came flowing into my account. I wanted to return it, but I got busy, and that’s when DCI came knocking on my door. You can take the money and allow me to continue with my life.”
Mwabe maintains that the seized equipment was for his cybersecurity consultancy, which he claims he has been running since 2017.
For now, he remains in police custody at Capitol Hill Police Station, awaiting arraignment once the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) approves charges expected on September 1, 2025. If convicted, he could face stiff penalties under Kenya’s computer misuse and cybercrimes laws.
The case has sparked mixed reactions online. Some Kenyans have argued that Mwabe’s skills should be nurtured rather than punished, pointing out how countries like the U.S. often hire hackers to work for agencies like the FBI. Others, however, view his actions as criminal regardless of talent, warning that such breaches undermine financial institutions and public trust.
Beyond Mwabe’s personal fate, the saga underscores Kenya’s growing cybercrime problem. Recent data shows over 840 million attempted cyberattacks were recorded in just three months late last year, targeting financial systems, government agencies, and private companies.
As the courtroom battle begins, one question hangs in the air: is Seth Mwabe a criminal mastermind or a gifted but reckless innovator caught in the crosshairs of a system unprepared to deal with grey-area cyber talent?
