Police seize Sh1m fake notes, arrest suspects

By Robert Kiplagat

Baringo, Kenya: Police in Kabarnet town, Baringo County, have nabbed two men with over Sh1million fake currency.

According to investigators, the two suspects identified as Onsongo Momanyi and John Koech were cornered by police at a hotel in town while waiting for “clients”, saying the illegal business has been on the rise in the area.

Baringo Central DCIO Webii Wanjala told The Standard they ambushed the suspects after a tip off from the public.

“We believe they must have been waiting for somebody who probably might have fallen for their tricks and we recovered Sh1.156 million paper money,” said Wanjala.

“Overnight riches”

The DCIO decried high rate of the ‘wash wash’ business in the town and attributed its rise to pursuit of “overnight riches.”

He said many people including some bank workers have fallen victim to the con artists in the area.

“This fake money business has been thriving because most people lack information and the con artists take advantage of that. Many people have lost hundreds of thousands in the cone schemes,” added Wanjala.

Wanjala also accused residents of reporting such incidences to authorities for action.

The two suspects, he said, will be arraigned in court soon to answer to charges of being in possession of fake currency. Recently, police arrested four women and seized Sh15,000 fake notes at Kipsaraman in Baringo North.