A Westlands man has been arrested for allegedly spending Sh6.7 million mistakenly transferred to his bank account, despite requests to return the money.
Dickson Yiaile Sitei was arrested on Saturday along Lantana Road by detectives from the Banking Fraud Investigation Unit following investigations into the erroneous transfer.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the incident occurred in mid-November 2025 when a private company was processing 74 electronic bank transfers.
Among the payments was Sh72,000 in rent owed to Sitei, who had leased a shop to the company in Suswa.
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However, a system error caused the rent payment to be combined with Sh6,744,354 intended for another business.
The combined amount was then transferred to Sitei's personal bank account in a single transaction.
The company discovered the error and contacted Sitei, requesting that he return the money. However, investigators allege that he kept and spent the funds despite repeated requests to refund the amount.
After completing their investigations, police forwarded the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for review. Prosecutors subsequently approved charges against Sitei.
He faces two counts: unlawfully withholding an erroneously delivered payment under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, and money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering Act.
Sitei remained in police custody as officers prepared him for his court appearance.
Following the arrest, the DCI reminded the public that money mistakenly deposited into a bank account does not automatically become the recipient's property.
Online, Kenyans reacted in earnest.
"Just a small fish having a bad day big fish are squandering billions of taxpayers' money with no worry of ever getting arrested," posed one.
"Why would you arrest him for accepting manna from heaven?" added another.
The agency warned that anyone who knowingly retains or spends funds transferred in error may face criminal charges.