Three suspected hackers charged with stealing Sh3.4 million from Eastleigh businessman
The alleged robbery took place along the Kariokor–Pangani road on April 10, 2025. The suspects are said to have been armed with a metal rod and a sharp knife and to have threatened the victim with actual violence.
Two men who allegedly stole a mobile phone from an Eastleigh businessman before hacking into his bank accounts and transferring Sh3.4 million have been charged with robbery with violence, money laundering, and engaging in organised criminal activities.
Peter Mathii and Isaac Kanini are facing a charge of robbery with violence contrary to Section 296(2) of the Penal Code. They are accused of robbing a businessman identified as Adam of a mobile phone valued at Sh178,000.
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The alleged robbery took place along the Kariokor–Pangani road on April 10, 2025. The suspects are said to have been armed with a metal rod and a sharp knife and to have threatened the victim with actual violence.
They also face charges of engaging in organised criminal activities contrary to Section 3(c) as read with Section 4(1) of the Prevention of Organised Crimes Act of 2010.
The two are charged alongside three accomplices: Fredrick Maina, Peter Wandera Ouma, and Hannington Kui Walumbengo. They are accused of acting with others to commit theft for financial gain.
Maina and Mathii face separate money laundering charges after allegedly transferring Sh3.4 million from Adam’s bank accounts in multiple transactions with the intent to unlawfully conceal the source of the funds.
Mathii is also charged with possession of devices adapted primarily for the commission of an offence, contrary to Section 18(2) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act of 2018.
He was allegedly found in possession of a device – a MOBIGO terminal belonging to Safaricom Limited – typically used to register SIM cards, knowing it was adapted for committing offences such as identity theft and bank fraud.
Together with Kanini, Mathii was also found in possession of several SIM cards from different mobile service providers, which investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) believe were intended for use in criminal activities.
Kanini was separately charged with being in possession of six Kenyan national identity cards belonging to other individuals. The items were reportedly recovered from the suspects’ respective homes in Ruiru, Kiambu County, during their arrest on May 2.
Detectives from Pangani DCI offices spent nearly a month investigating the syndicate, including obtaining court orders to scrutinise the victim’s bank accounts in order to trace the stolen funds.
The initial arrests led to the apprehension of the three accomplices, who were allegedly involved in the broader scheme. All six suspects denied the charges before Senior Principal Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe.
Corporal Peter Maritim of Pangani DCI, who led the investigation, urged the court to deny bail and bond, stating in an affidavit that three suspects had issued death threats to the complainant while in custody in an attempt to coerce him to withdraw the case.
“While in custody, the suspects directly threatened to kill the complainant, demanding that he withdraws the case or they would carry out their threats. The complainant reported the matter to Pangani Police Station under Occurrence Book (OB) number 133/17/05/2025, and the matter is under active investigation,” stated Cpl. Maritim.
Cpl. Maritim also argued that, due to the serious nature of the offences, particularly the robbery charge, which carries the death penalty, the suspects are likely to abscond trial.
He cited the Bail and Bond Policy Guidelines, which recommend denying bail in cases involving grave offences to safeguard public safety and ensure the integrity of the judicial process.
Magistrate Shikwe is expected to rule on the bail and bond application on May 26.
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