At least ten people have been arrested for impersonating senior government officials, including members of the president’s family, on social media.
First Lady Rachael Ruto, President Ruto’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC) Fabian Lengusuranga, Defence Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale, and his interior counterpart Prof Kithure Kindiki were among those who impersonated them.
According to police, the impersonation occurred on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
For example, in Sirisia and Kapsabet towns in Bungoma and Nandi counties, police detained and questioned Michael Wekesa, 19, Isaac Lukando Oduor, 19, and Dennis Kimaru, 25.
According to police, Michael is the main suspect in an impersonation case in which he opened a Facebook account purporting to work at the First Lady’s office and managed to scam members of the public under the guise that he can offer loans.
He would then request a deposit as processing fees, and the funds would be transferred to a phone number and then to a till number in his name.
He was arrested in Sirisia on Friday, October 28, 2022, and booked at Eldoret police station.
Three phones recovered from him and his associate Isaac Lukando Oduor, who was running a call center for the scam, are being forensically examined.
Dennis Kimaru, a Kirinyaga University bachelor of commerce finance graduate who uses the Facebook accounts Mzalendo Kimaru (Jeshii), Mzalendo Kym Korir, and Obuntu Family, as well as the Twitter account Mzalendo Kym and the Instagram account Mzalendo Kym, opened a social media account in the name of Ruto’s ADC Fabian Lengusuranga.
Kimaru was arrested and detained at the Kapsabet police station on Sunday, October 23, 2022.
During his interrogation, Kimaru claimed that he created the account to gain Facebook likes and followers because the ADC’s appointment was trending on social media.
DCI sleuths are on the hunt for other members of the online fraudsters who are giving Kenyans sleepless nights.
A special squad has been formed to track down those responsible for the threat. Kenyans are encouraged to report the crime to the DCI so that it can be investigated.
According to police, the investigation files on those arrested will be sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for action to prosecute them.
Online impersonation and identity theft have compelled major social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to hire dedicated staff to monitor how people use online resources.
To promote the credibility of information, the companies have embraced the use of verified accounts at a cost to individuals and corporations as part of their strategy.
