'No gov't official was involved', DCI says on Ksh.60M tender scam at Harambee House

A report by The Standard revealed that the seven suspects were accused of defrauding two foreign nationals, Talal Yousef Yousef Zaitoun and his brother Hatem Youssef Yousef Zaitoun, representatives of Swedish firm Jokara AB, in a fictitious tender deal involving the supply of 500 Toyota Hiace High Roof ambulances.

The report further alleged that two of the suspects were employed in Interior PS Raymond Omollo’s office, while two others were said to be aides to Senator Allan Chesang.

In a statement released on March 20, 2026, the DCI clarified that the individuals arrested on March 10, 2026, were not government officials but external fraudsters who exploited Harambee House to dupe foreign investors.

According to the DCI, detectives acting on credible intelligence apprehended the seven suspects after they illegally accessed a boardroom on the 12th floor of Harambee House. 

The group had allegedly been posing as senior officials from key government institutions, including the Ministry of Interior, the National Treasury, and the Ministry of Health.

Investigations revealed that the scheme began on January 10, 2026, when Talal Zaitoun received an unsolicited WhatsApp message from an individual identified as Stanley Ndawula. 

The suspect allegedly requested a company catalogue before linking the victim to another suspect, Geoffrey Were, who posed as a consultant affiliated with a firm known as Interleg Corporate.

On January 26, 2026, the victim travelled to Kenya and was received at the airport by the suspects before being escorted to Harambee House. Authorities noted that a female accomplice facilitated their unauthorised entry past security checkpoints.

Once inside, the victim was taken to a conference room on the fifth floor, where he met individuals posing as officials from the National Treasury and the Ministry of Health. 

He was presented with forged documents, including a fake pre-qualification certificate purportedly signed by senior government officials.

The fraudsters reportedly offered two business packages, Ksh.11.5 million (USD 90,000) for a single five-year opportunity or Ksh.14.1 million (USD 110,000) for multiple opportunities over the same period. The victim opted for the latter and transferred USD 110,000 on January 30, 2026, through a sister company in China to an account held by Conrad Law Advocates LLP at Ecobank Kenya.

On February 11, 2026, the victim made an additional transfer of  Ksh.46.4 million under the pretext of insurance, bringing the total amount lost to Ksh.60.6 million. The suspects later demanded a further Ksh.139 million in installments, prompting the victims to return to Kenya for further engagement, leading to the suspects’ arrest.

Those arrested comprised Geoffrey Were Odondi, Michael Musyoki Ngumbi, Kororia Simatwa, Evans Simotwo, Allan Muthaiga Kariuki, and Munialo Jared Masinde. A seventh suspect, Purity Njeri, was identified as a former employee of the Ministry of Public Service who was transferred to the Treasury. She is accused of facilitating unauthorized access to the building. The Standard report highlighted Njeri as the employee in PS Omollo's office. 

The suspects were arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts on March 16, 2026, where they faced multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretences, acquisition of proceeds of crime, and forgery. They pleaded not guilty and were released on a bond of Ksh.3 million each or an alternative cash bail of Ksh.300,000, with two sureties required. Their passports were surrendered to the court.

The case is scheduled for mention on April 1, 2026, for pre-trial directions.

The DCI emphasised that no serving government official or employee from the Ministry of Interior was involved in the scheme, reiterating that the suspects were external actors exploiting government institutions for credibility.

“The arrested persons were purely external fraudsters who exploited public institutions for criminal gain,” read part of the statement. 

The investigative body further appealed to the public and international investors to exercise caution, noting that legitimate government tenders are advertised through official channels and do not require upfront payments or facilitation fees.