Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Banking Fraud Unit have arrested two suspects in connection with a nationwide wave of Mpesa thefts.
The suspects, Ali Samir Abdalla and Ajip Haisam, were apprehended on Thursday evening at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as they returned from Zambia, where they had reportedly gone into hiding.
Their arrest follows a series of robberies that targeted mobile money operators across various towns in Kenya, causing significant losses to victims.
The suspects were linked to the thefts through surveillance footage captured at multiple locations. In one incident, a man and two women were seen on CCTV at a mobile money shop in Meru.
The suspects had requested to exchange foreign currency for local currency. After a brief conversation with the shop owner, they left, but the Mpesa attendant later realized that Ksh. 40,000 had been stolen.
The shop owner reported that the thieves had used a chemical substance to manipulate the attendant into handing over the money without using force.
Joseph M’Ibaya, a victim of the theft, explained that the thieves came in pretending to be customers, saying they wanted to exchange dollars.
“When they handed over money to the girl, we did not realize what had happened to the cash… it was as if they had sprayed it with something, and later we realized a lot of money was gone,” he said.
This method was used in multiple thefts across several towns, including Mombasa, Nairobi, Malindi, Nakuru, and Eldoret. Many victims have reported similar experiences, with the suspects targeting mobile money operators using the same tactics.
The thefts continued without arrests until a video of the suspects surfaced on TikTok, which led to a wider investigation. M’Ibaya further added, “After we posted that video on TikTok, many people said they had also been victims of these people. It was a man and two women. When we went to Meru police station, there were other victims there.” He also expressed frustration with the lack of accountability, stating that, “These people are not held accountable, and when they are arrested, they are released. This is government negligence. These people are stealing across Kenya, and the police are not doing enough.”
The suspects were also captured on video in a wholesale shop, where they engaged with an attendant before stealing money. They were later seen in a similar manner robbing a local bank in Mombasa.
After days of investigation, the authorities managed to arrest Ali Samir Abdalla and Ajip Haisam, who are now being held at Capital Hill Police Station. Meanwhile, the search for additional accomplices continues. Police have urged victims to come forward and provide statements to aid in the ongoing investigation.
