Five suspects face charges over a fraudulent cement order worth Sh742,000.
DCI says a woman paid for 1,400 bags of cement through a fraudulent website impersonating Bamburi Cement PLC.
Five suspects face charges over a Bamburi cement scam that cost a woman Sh742,000 for an undelivered order. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the fraud involved a website impersonating Bamburi Cement PLC.
The woman wanted 1,400 bags of cement for a family construction project in Ruiru. In August 2025, she found the fake website while searching for a supplier, investigators said.
How the Bamburi cement scam unfolded
Believing the website represented the manufacturer, the woman called the telephone number listed on it. The person she contacted then directed her to WhatsApp, where she negotiated a price of Sh530 per bag.
She subsequently received an invoice requesting Sh742,000 through a Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) bank transfer. The payment instructions named a local bank account purportedly belonging to Bamburi Cement Limited.
On August 23, 2025, she transferred the full amount, but the promised cement never arrived. After attempts to reach the supposed supplier failed, she contacted Bamburi Cement PLC directly. The company told her it had no knowledge of the transaction.
Investigators established that the website, telephone number and invoice were fraudulent. None had authorisation from, or any affiliation with, Bamburi Cement PLC, the DCI said.
Money trail leads detectives to five suspects
According to the DCI, investigators traced the funds through an account operated by Florence Atieno Okoth. The money then moved to another account operated by Emmanuel Wekesa, also known as Brian Mulumba. ATM withdrawals in Kitengela Town followed.
Detectives later carried out an intelligence-led operation in Uasin Gishu and Nairobi counties, arresting five suspects. They identified them as Florence Atieno Okoth, Dickson Alalwa Mabati, Kevin Ongaya Were, Kelvin Kibet Keter and Emmanuel Wekesa. All five have since appeared in court to face charges connected to the fraud.
Following the case, the DCI urged buyers to verify websites, sellers, payment details and business transactions before sending money. It also pledged to pursue cyber-enabled fraud and dismantle networks involved in financial crimes.
