Five Arrested Over Sh742,000 Fraud in Fake Bamburi Cement Online Scam

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 6 – Five suspects have been arrested and charged over an online fraud scheme in which a woman lost Sh742,000 while attempting to purchase 1,400 bags of cement from a fraudulent website impersonating Bamburi Cement PLC.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the incident occurred in August 2025 after the complainant, who was sourcing cement for a family construction project in Ruiru, came across a website purporting to represent the cement manufacturer.

Believing she was dealing with the legitimate supplier, the woman contacted a telephone number listed on the website and was directed to WhatsApp, where she negotiated the purchase at Sh530 per bag.

She subsequently received an invoice demanding payment of Sh742,000, which she was instructed to remit through a Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transfer to a local bank account purportedly held in the name of Bamburi Cement Limited.

On August 23, 2025, she transferred the full amount but the promised consignment was never delivered.

Attempts to reach the purported supplier proved unsuccessful, prompting her to contact Bamburi Cement PLC, where she discovered that the company had no knowledge of the transaction.

She subsequently reported the matter to the police.

Investigations established that the website, telephone number and invoice used in the transaction were fraudulent and had no authorisation or affiliation with Bamburi Cement PLC.

According to the DCI, financial investigations traced the stolen funds from a bank account operated by Florence Atieno Okoth to another account operated by Emmanuel Wekesa, alias Brian Mulumba.

The money was subsequently withdrawn through ATM transactions in Kitengela Town.

Detectives later conducted an intelligence-led operation in Uasin Gishu and Nairobi counties, leading to the arrest of five suspects identified as Florence Atieno Okoth, Dickson Alalwa Mabati, Kevin Ongaya Were, Kelvin Kibet Keter and Emmanuel Wekesa, alias Brian Mulumba.

The five suspects have since been arraigned in court and charged in connection with the fraud.

The Directorate has cautioned members of the public against falling victim to online shopping scams, urging prospective buyers to verify websites, sellers, payment details and business transactions before sending money.

It reiterated its commitment to pursuing cyber-enabled fraudsters, dismantling criminal networks and ensuring those involved in financial crimes are brought to justice.

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