Kilimani detectives have arrested two fraudsters, Benson Macharia and Robinson Okwemo Nyandoro, for defrauding a Chinese national of Ksh 6.5 million in a cryptocurrency scam on February 20, 2025, at Rose Gardens, Kileleshwa.
The Scam
Masquerading as cryptocurrency exchange experts, Macharia and Nyandoro lured their victim with promises of a smooth transaction. However, during the exchange, Nyandoro fled with the cash, escaping through a backdoor with a carrier bag full of money, while Macharia stayed behind to deceive the victim by claiming the transaction was delayed due to network issues.
When hours passed without a successful exchange, the victim realized he had been scammed and reported the incident at Kileleshwa Police Station.
Arrests and Legal Proceedings
Detectives swiftly launched investigations, leading to Macharia’s arrest. He was arraigned before the Kibera Chief Magistrate’s Court on February 25, 2025, where he pleaded not guilty and was released on a Ksh 1 million bail with a similar surety.
Authorities continued their pursuit and arrested Nyandoro at The Hub Karen on February 27, 2025. A search of his residence at KMA Estate, Lang’ata, led to the recovery of Ksh 500,000, suspected to be part of the stolen money.
Nyandoro was also arraigned before the Kibera Chief Magistrate’s Court and pleaded not guilty. He will remain in custody at Industrial Area Prison until March 4, 2025, when the court will determine his bond terms.
Authorities Warn Against Crypto Fraud
Law enforcement officials have urged the public to exercise caution when engaging in cryptocurrency transactions to avoid falling prey to fraudsters exploiting the growing digital currency market.
