Kinoti gives details of conman soliciting money from MPs

Detectives have revealed that the person who has been soliciting money from MPs has a close relationship with the lawmakers.

Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti Thursday told the National Assembly Security Committee that after in-depth investigations, they had found that there is a special relationship between the suspect and the complainants.

"We have carried in-depth investigations on this matter and come to the conclusion that there is a special relation between complaints (MPs) and the suspect which I may not be comfortable discussing in public,” Mr Kinoti said.

The media was told to get out as Mr Kinoti said he was uncomfortable divulging more details about the suspect in public.

ACCOMPLICES

Mr Benson Chacha Wasila, who police said was the main suspect, was further linked to a love affair that entangled a former MP.

Three of his accomplices, including an M-Pesa agent, have since been arrested.

The agent, according to detectives, colluded with fraudsters to register an M-Pesa account bearing the name and identification details of Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Chege.

After a session with MPs on Thursday, Mr Kinoti told the Nation that Mr Wasila is well-known to all the legislators who have complained.

RELATIONSHIP

Murang’a Woman Rep Sabina Chege who raised the complaint on the floor of the House last week later clarified to reporters at Parliament that that she has no special relationship with the suspect.

She said her understanding of the DCI comment was that the suspect is known to MPs in general.

Ms Chege complained on the floor of the House that there is a person who has been using her number to solicit cash from MPs.

She said she knows the suspect and even where he lives but accused the police doing nothing to arrest him.

"I have done my own investigations, I know the person, where he lives… I even have his number and pictures but I still don’t understand why he has not been arrested,” she said.

“I have presented all the details to police but they have done nothing about it.”

VICTIMS

Among those who have fallen victim and sent money to the suspect are National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi who sent Sh300,000, former Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo (Sh20,000), Cabinet secretaries Eugene Wamalwa (Devolution), Peter Munya (EAC), Margaret Kobia (Public Service) and Sicily Kariuki (Health).

Ms Chege said the person knows all her details, including her daily routine, making it easy for MPs to fall for his tricks.

Sources told the Nation that the MPs directed Mr Kinoti to arrest the suspect before the end of this week.

Mr Kinoti also told the MPs that they have so far arrested 70 people who have been involved in the scam of soliciting money from MPs.

In the closed door session, Mr Kinoti told the MPs that he will personally ensure that the main suspect who has been using Ms Chege’s number and the woman who has been sending MPs nude pictures are arrested.

“He made a personal commitment that he will arrest the two main culprits,” said an MP who requested not to be named.

Following the complaint by Ms Chege, Mr Muturi directed the National Security Committee to investigate the matter and present a report to the House within seven days.

The committee has so far held meetings with Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom and the  DCI over the matter.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

An earlier version of this story indicated that Mr George Kinoti had referred to Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Chege as being associated with the suspect in the investigations. We have since established that Mr Kinoti referred to lawmakers in general, and not Ms Chege in particular.