A university student was today arraigned at Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi to answer to fraud charges.
Gideon Kibet Langat allegedly diverted the Ministry of Education’s KSh1.1 million capitation funds meant for a primary school in Bomet County to his account in National Bank of Kenya (NBK), Nandi Hills branch before transferring the same amount to his accomplices.
According to the bank, the student fraudulently diverted KSh1, 173, 352 to NKB Nandi Hills branch.
The incident was reported to the Criminal Investigations (DCI) Banking Fraud Investigations Unit (BFID) in Nairobi on January 23, 2025, and the matter is being investigated.
“The said amount was diverted from the Ministry of Education as capitation fees meant for Menet Primary School in Bomet County,” stated Detective Constable Julie Rutto of BFID – Nairobi in an affidavit filed at the Milimani law courts.
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“As soon as the respondent (Langat) received the funds into his account, he withdrew the same through mobile banking on his cellphone and sent other monies through Pesalink to one of his accomplices at name (withheld) bank. Preliminary investigations established that this was a well-planned fraud where more parties are involved and are yet to be arrested,”
Rutto said that the suspected was arrested in Kericho town on Saturday January 25. He went further to state those alleged organisers of the fraud are still at large.
Forensic audit
He added that said the amount could be bigger than KSh1.1 million though this will be determined through a forensic audit.
The detective made a prayer to have the suspect detained at Kileleshwa Police Station for 10 days to complete the investigations.
Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi remanded Langat at the police station for 10 days.
The detective further said, “The alleged masterminds may facilitate (Langat) into escaping justice. The alleged masterminds might influence the respondent (Langat) from revealing crucial information that could lead to their arrest.”
She added that investigations are ongoing including recording witness statements and obtaining M-pesa statements.
Shitubi said the theft of the Ministry of Education’s funds is a matter of public interest that should be investigated thoroughly for all culprits to face the law.
By Joseph Mambili
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