The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has dismissed reports linking government officials to a fraud scheme that led to the arrest of seven suspects at the Ministry of Interior headquarters, Harambee House, saying the individuals were external fraudsters who illegally accessed government facilities to con foreign investors.
In a press statement issued on March 20, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations said the suspects were arrested on March 10, 2026, after detectives received credible intelligence that a group had unlawfully accessed a boardroom on the 12th floor of Harambee House while posing as officials from the Ministry of Interior, the National Treasury, and the Ministry of Health.
“The suspects were masquerading as officials from the Ministry of Interior, the National Treasury, and the Ministry of Health, and had lured two foreign nationals into a fictitious government tender for the supply of 500 Toyota Hiace High Roof ambulances,” read part of the DCI statement.
DCI Investigations Uncover Fake Tender Scheme
According to the DCI, the victims were identified as Talal Yousef Yousef Zaitoun, representing Swedish firm Jokara AB, and his brother, Hatem Yousef Yousef Zaitoun.
Investigations revealed that the scheme began on January 10, 2026, when Zaitoun received an unsolicited WhatsApp message from an individual who requested the company catalogue and later linked him to Geoffrey Were, who was presented as a consultant working with government entities.
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On January 26, 2026, the victim travelled to Kenya, where he was received at the airport by Geoffrey Were and a driver before being taken to Harambee House.
DCI said a female accomplice facilitated illegal access past security checkpoints, allowing the victim into a conference room on the fifth floor, where he met individuals posing as officials from the National Treasury and the Ministry of Health.
How Suspects Lured Foreign Investors
The victim was presented with forged tender documents, including a fake pre‑qualification certificate purportedly signed by senior officials at the Ministry of Interior. The fraudsters then offered two payment options: USD 90,000 for a single five‑year business opportunity or USD 110,000 for multiple opportunities over the same period.
“The fraudsters offered two packages: USD 90,000 for a single five‑year business opportunity or USD 110,000 for multiple opportunities within the same period,” noted DCI.
After opting for the higher package, the victim transferred USD 110,000 on January 30, 2026, from a sister company in China to an account held by Conrad Law Advocates LLP at Ecobank Kenya. An additional USD 360,750 was later transferred under the pretext of insurance.
According to DCI, the fraud continued until March 14, 2026, when the suspects demanded an additional USD 470,000, claiming it was the balance payable to the Kenya Revenue Authority upon delivery. Detectives arrested the suspects during a meeting in a boardroom on the 12th floor.
Those arrested were identified as Geoffrey Were Okinda, Michael Mangeni, Teresa Nanyasa, Eunice Awino, Moses Khaemba, John Musyoka, and Maxwell Owiti.
DCI said another suspect remains at large and is believed to have facilitated access to the boardroom despite having no current administrative role at the Ministry of Interior.
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The suspects were arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts on March 15, 2026, and charged with conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretences, impersonation, and stealing by a director.
They were granted bail of KSh1 million each or a cash bail of KSh500,000, with the case set for mention on April 4, 2026.
DCI stressed that no serving government official or employee of the Ministry of Interior was involved in the fraud, adding that the suspects exploited unused government facilities for criminal gain.
“The arrested people were external fraudsters who exploited public infrastructure for criminal gain by unlawfully accessing unused boardrooms,” the agency said.
DCI urged members of the public and international investors to verify all government tenders through official channels and exercise due diligence, warning that fraudsters continue to target investors using fake documentation and impersonation.
The Directorate said it remains committed to dismantling organised fraud syndicates and working with other agencies to protect investors and uphold accountability.
