The masterminds of Harambee House tender scam

In a stunning twist to the Sh60.8 million fake ambulance tender scandal, The Standard can reveal that the scam was orchestrated from the office of Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omolo by senior officials and aides, and that the whistleblower who tipped off police is a close aide to the PS. Detectives who spoke to The Standard revealed that the same whistleblower facilitated the conmen's access to the high-security 12th-floor government reception office to deceive the Swedish businessman who was the target of the fraud scheme. However, when the foreign investor realised he had been conned and escalated the matter through his embassy, the official moved swiftly to cover his tracks by betraying his own accomplices. "The officer attached to the office of the PS personally called the sentry at the Harambee House gate to alert security that visitors were coming in," an investigator told The Standard. "He then facilitated the use of the VIP lifts for the conmen to impress the foreign businessman. The 12th floor houses the government reception office where visitors coming to see the President wait, and it even has executive meeting rooms," the investigator said. When the complainant, Talar Yousef Yousef Zaitoun, realised he had been defrauded, he approached his embassy, which followed up with Harambee House. Sensing that things were getting hot, the officer contacted the foreigner and laid a trap for his colleagues even though they were his accomplices, before contacting police to have them arrested. "He threw them under the bus to save himself. There is nothing we can do to him since he is close to the PS," the investigator said. "We have just arrested his accomplices, taken them to court but we can't touch him without permission from his boss, the PS. As policemen, the PS is also our boss, so we cannot touch his man." The scam unravelled this week when seven officials at Harambee House were arrested, and later arraigned for duping the Swede that they would give him a contract to supply 500 ambulances. On that belief, the complainant has already been defrauded of $470,750 (Sh60,867,975). The suspects arrested on Monday at Harambee House are Michael Musyoki Ngumbi, Evans Simotwo, Geoffrey Were Odondi, Allan Mutahi Kariuki, Purity Njeri Njamiu, Jared Muniaro Masinde and Kororia Simatwa. The Standard has established that Purity Njeri Njamiu is employed in PS Omollo's office, while Geoffrey Were Odondi is an aide to the PS. Jared Muniaro Masinde and Evans Kipkemoi Simotwo are aides to Senator Allan Chesang. Sources familiar with past fraud cases noted that Chesang had been implicated, arrested and arraigned in January 22, 2021 for allegedly businessman Charles Musinga, who owns Makindu Motors. In that case, the businessman supplied laptops worth Sh180 million to the Office of the Deputy President but was never paid after it emerged the tender was a forgery. A Nairobi lawyer who received the money from the Swedish businessman on behalf of the suspects is among those being sought. Contacted by The Standard, the senior official named by investigators denied that he was the whistleblower in the scam. "I was not involved in any way. I can't also comment on such matters since I am not the official spokesperson. Please call the principal administrative secretary in the Ministry of Interior. He can answer all your questions." However, a statement to the police written by the victim about how the conmen were arrested states in part: "My brother immediately communicated with (the senior official) through WhatsApp and informed him that the meeting was in progress so that the police would storm in. "We held discussion with them as we were trying to negotiate the insurance fees downwards and that they allow us to make payments in installments for a period of 14 days. After about 20 minutes, police officers in uniform came together with him and informed us that they had arrested the purported government officials and that we should wait. Later, officers who were introduced as DCI came and took us to their offices where we were interviewed and recorded the statement." The Standard called Arthur Amug Osiya, the Permanent Administrative Secretary in the Office of the President who did not pick our calls or respond to our text messages. Police say they are investigating a matter that relates to conspiracy to defraud, obtaining by false pretenses and acquisition of proceeds of crime, among other offences. "Some of the offenders had presented themselves to the complainant as senior government officials with the capacity to convene meetings and enter into contractual agreements on behalf of the government with foreign investors and business people," the police affidavit says. "On this basis, and through other fraudulent tricks, the complainant was invited by some of the suspects to meetings at Harambee House. Indeed, the respondents were arrested at Harambee House after one such meeting." Police say it is imperative for them to investigate the breach that resulted in the convening of meetings aimed at criminal purposes at a government premises that houses, among others, the office of the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, and the Office of the President, and which is gazetted as a protected government installation. "Several other persons, yet to be apprehended, whether government officials or otherwise, may have been involved, which advises even a more thorough investigation." They added there is a need to interview senior government officials who may be difficult to trace and record statements from due to their busy schedules. Investigators say the suspects used forged documents, impersonation of government officials and fake legal entities to convince the businessman he had secured a legitimate government contract. The complainant, based in Stockholm, is the owner of Jokara AB, a company involved in exporting timber and machinery from Sweden to African markets. He told police the ordeal began on January 10, 2026 when he received a WhatsApp message from a person identifying himself as Stanley Ndawula, using a Ugandan phone number, requesting a catalogue of products from his company. A day later, Zaitoun was contacted by another individual identified as Geoffrey Were, using a Kenyan phone number, who introduced himself as a consultant working with Interlog Corporate, claiming to facilitate business between the Kenyan government and private companies. Were informed the businessman of a government tender opportunity involving the supply of ambulances. On January 19, Were informed Zaitoun that the Government of Kenya was seeking to procure ambulances. After expressing interest, the Swedish businessman submitted a quotation on January 31, 2026, proposing to supply Toyota Hiace high roof ambulances priced at $65,500 (Sh8.47 million) per unit, including specifications and photographs. He was subsequently invited to travel to Kenya for further engagements and on January 26, 2026, arrived in the country through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, aboard a Turkish Airlines flight. He was received by Were and a driver identified as Nicho, who took him to Radisson Blu Hotel Arboretum, where he stayed until January 30. On January 27, Zaitoun was escorted to Harambee House for a meeting with several individuals, including Michael and Geoffrey, who introduced themselves as representatives of government agencies including the National Treasury and the Ministry of Health. During the meeting, he was informed that the ambulances were required for delivery to Mombasa and that before signing the contract he had to meet certain financial requirements. He was told the total contract value stood at $36,025,000 (Sh4.66 billion) and that he had to provide either a performance bond or insurance coverage. Zaitoun opted to pay a three per cent insurance coverage, amounting to $1,080,750 (Sh139.8 million), instead of the performance bond. He was also told there was an additional two per cent ledger fee worth $360,250 (Sh46.6 million), which he was informed would be shared between him and the government. The suspects also allegedly demanded a pre-qualification fee, offering two options: $90,000 (Sh11.64 million) for qualification for a single government contract within five years and $110,000 (Sh14.23 million) for qualification for multiple contracts within the same period. Zaitoun said he chose the $110,000 package. On January 30, 2026, the money was transferred from a sister company in China Lianyungang Chanta International Wood Co. Ltd to an Ecobank Kenya account in the name of Conrad Law Advocates LLP. He was issued with invoices and documents including a certificate of incorporation, company search records and identification documents allegedly belonging to the law firm. After the payment, he received a pre-qualification certificate indicating that the tender had been awarded to his company. However, the document showed the award date as October 22, 2025, raising suspicion. He was allegedly assured that such documentation was usually backdated. Despite returning to Sweden, the suspects continued pressing him to pay the remaining insurance coverage fees, claiming the Kenyan government had already paid its portion. Following negotiations, the businessman transferred additional amounts on February 1, including $48,392 (Sh6.26 million), $51,607 (Sh6.67 million), and $80,000 (Sh10.35 million). Further payments were made on February 25, including $55,285.22 (Sh7.15 million), $55,438.30 (Sh7.17 million), and $69,275.95 (Sh8.96 million). Zaitoun later became suspicious after the suspects repeatedly changed conditions and explanations regarding the payments. Independent due diligence also revealed that the pre-qualification certificate was fraudulent. On March 9, 2026, Zaitoun returned to Kenya with his brother Hatim. They were again received by Were and the same driver before being taken back to Radisson Blu Hotel. The following day, they proceeded to Harambee House for another meeting with the suspects when the arrest was staged.

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