Witness narrates how Kamiti convicts defrauded millions from the comfort of cells

Kamiti Maximum Prison in Nairobi on September 17th 2021. [FILE,Standard] Fresh details have emerged revealing a sophisticated criminal operation inside Kamiti Maximum Prison where inmates have been defrauding unsuspecting members of the public out of millions of shillings from the comfort of their cells. The elaborate scheme, involving collusion between inmates and outside accomplices, was exposed through testimonies and evidence presented before Milimani Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi. One of the most shocking revelations came from a witness who detailed how a convict at Kamiti orchestrated a Sh7.6 million land fraud scheme using his mother as an intermediary. The convict, identified as Hesbon Onyango Nyamweya, is currently serving a sentence for defilement. Despite his incarceration, he and his mother deceived unsuspecting individuals into purchasing non-existent property. Benard Otieno, a farmer from Homa Bay County, was among the victims who fell prey to the scheme. Otieno recounted how he was approached by a woman, later identified as Pamela Akinyi, who claimed to be acting on behalf of her son, Nyamweya. "A visitor approached me while at home around March 2020, introduced herself as Pamela Akinyi, and informed me that she was sent by her son Hesbon Onyango Nyamweya to look for land on his behalf," Otieno told the court. He explained that he knew Nyamweya from years prior when he had worked for a local villager looking after livestock. Otieno said that Pamela explained her son's inability to look for land due to his work commitments. She asked for his help in purchasing land for him. "She told me that Hesbon was working very far and could not get permission to come and look for land by himself," Otieno testified. Familiar with Nyamweya, Otieno agreed to assist. After three months, he found a neighbor, Peter Marcus Oswago, who was selling land, and informed Pamela of the opportunity. "Oswago informed him he intended to sell a portion of land, and he informed Pamela. They met, agreed with the owner, and initially purchased one acre, later acquiring another," Otieno said. Pamela agreed to purchase two acres of land at Sh140,000 per acre, with Otieno acting as the proxy in the transaction. "The price agreed was Sh140,000 per acre. During the purchase process, I want to confirm to this court that I represented Hesbon to sign the land transaction documents," Otieno admitted. The payment for the land deal was sent via mobile phone by Pamela and her associate, Cynthia Akoth Ouko. Once the deal was completed, Pamela arranged for the construction of two houses on the land before returning to Nairobi, leaving Otieno unaware of the fraudulent nature of the transaction. In a separate but related testimony, John Tauta, a land broker from Ongata Rongai, revealed how he connected Pamela with another land seller, leading to the purchase of two additional plots for a total of Sh 1.4 million. Tauta confirmed that construction began immediately after the transaction was completed, further validating the fraudulent scheme. "I connected Pamela with the seller, they agreed on the price, and immediately after the purchase, construction of a story building began," Tauta said. These witnesses were testifying in a case where Nyamweya orchestrated a sophisticated fraud scheme from behind bars, defrauding businesswoman Purity Karambu Laird of Sh 7.6 million in a land deal. An investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) sought to uncover how Nyamweya, serving a life sentence for defilement, managed to carry out the scheme from within one of the country's most secure prisons. The fraud came to light when Laird, a prominent businesswoman, reported that she had been defrauded of Sh7.6 million by someone claiming to have access to prime land for sale. The person behind the false promise was later identified as Nyamweya, a prisoner at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison. Despite being behind bars, Nyamweya managed to communicate with Laird for seven months, convincing her that he could facilitate the sale of land that did not exist. Between May 1, 2020, and September 17, 2020, he maintained regular communication with Laird, building trust and presenting himself as a legitimate land seller. Unbeknownst to Laird, she was communicating with a convicted felon from one of the most secure prisons in the country. Investigators from the DCI have been piecing together how Nyamweya pulled off such a complex scheme while incarcerated. Police claim he used a mobile phone to contact Laird, convincing her that he had valuable land for sale. Laird, trusting Nyamweya's false assurances, transferred a total of Sh7.6 million to an account provided by him. "The complainant Laird, the victim in this case, reportedly fell prey to the scam and lost a substantial amount of money," investigators said. After receiving the money, Nyamweya transferred the funds to his elderly mother, Pamela Akinyi Wara. The money was then used by Wara to acquire multiple prime properties in Ongata Rongai, Lang'ata, and Migori County, reportedly worth millions of shillings, showcasing the scale of the fraud. For instance, in Ongata Rongai, Nyamweya's mother is currently building a multi-million residential house using proceeds from the crime. The police stated that the money was transferred in several tranches over nearly five months, making it initially difficult for Laird to trace the fraudulent activity. Investigators believe the scheme was well-coordinated by Nyamweya, his elderly mother, and other accomplices. One detective investigating the case stated that the revelation of such a high-profile fraud orchestrated from a maximum-security prison raises serious concerns about prison security and oversight. The DCI has launched an investigation into how Nyamweya was able to access a phone and conduct fraudulent activities while behind bars. There are concerns about potential collusion or negligence among prison staff, as well as the effectiveness of security measures meant to prevent inmates from engaging in illegal activities. "Kamiti Maximum Security Prison is supposed to be the most secure prison in the country," one investigator said. "That an inmate could access a phone and defraud someone of such a large sum of money raises serious questions about the level of supervision and the effectiveness of security measures." The investigation has led to the arrest of Nyamweya and his mother, who face charges of conspiracy to steal, money laundering, and other fraudulent activities that occurred between May and September 2020. In court, the charges detailed how Nyamweya, with the assistance of his mother and other accomplices, defrauded Sh 7,656,500 from Laird. The money was stolen and laundered through various transactions to conceal its illicit origins. Pamela was further charged with handling stolen property and retaining the stolen money, knowing it had been unlawfully acquired. She also faces multiple charges of cheating. While Nyamweya continues to serve his defilement sentence at Kamiti, his mother, Pamela, remains in remand at Lang'ata Women's Prison as the trial is heard and determined. The case will resume further hearing on April 10, 2025.

Witness narrates how Kamiti convicts defrauded millions from the comfort of cells

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