Three men have been arraigned before the Kilifi Chief Magistrate’s Court over an alleged multi-million-shilling fraud scheme that targeted suppliers in Kilifi and Laikipia counties.
The suspects are accused of posing as officials from the Programme Against Malnutrition (PAM) to trick businesses into supplying goods worth millions of shillings without receiving any payment.
The suspects have been identified as Naftali Kimani Chege, also known as Ignatius Njenga, Kenneth Thuo Karanja, also known as Bosco Mbugua Ng’ang’a, and Michael Munene.
According to investigators, the three allegedly presented themselves as representatives of the Programme Against Malnutrition and convinced suppliers that they were carrying out genuine procurement activities.
Police say the suspects used the false identity to persuade suppliers to deliver large quantities of goods with promises that payment would be made later.
However, after receiving the goods, they allegedly disappeared without settling the bills, leaving the affected businesses counting heavy losses.Investigators say the alleged fraud caused major losses in Kilifi County alone, where six suppliers reportedly lost goods valued at KSh14,952,990.
The items allegedly obtained through the scheme included cooking oil, rice, sanitary towels, bar soap and milk.
Detectives believe the goods were acquired through false promises and misleading assurances that suppliers would be paid.
The investigation gained momentum after detectives carried out coordinated raids at offices linked to the suspects in the Rojo area of Kilifi County and in Nanyuki Town, Laikipia County.
During the operations, officers recovered several documents and materials believed to be connected to the alleged scam.
Among the items seized were invoices, receipts, procurement records, supplier registration documents, SIM cards and banners bearing the name Programme Against Malnutrition.
Detectives say the recovered materials will be used as exhibits as investigations continue.
Following their arrest in Nanyuki Town, the suspects were taken to the DCI offices in Kilifi before being presented before the Kilifi Law Courts. The court granted detectives permission to detain the three suspects for 21 days to allow investigators more time to complete their inquiries.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations says efforts are still ongoing to trace and recover the goods allegedly obtained through the scheme.
Detectives are also following additional leads to identify and arrest other individuals who may have participated in the alleged fraud.
The investigation remains active as authorities seek to establish the full extent of the suspected operation and determine whether more suppliers may have been affected.