A woman has lost KSh 742,000 in an online shopping scam after attempting to purchase 1,400 bags of cement for a family construction project in Ruiru, only to discover that the seller was operating a fake website impersonating Bamburi Cement PLC. Five suspects have since been arrested and arraigned in court following investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The case highlights the growing risks of online shopping fraud, particularly where criminals impersonate established companies to convince unsuspecting customers to transfer large sums of money.
Highlights
- Five suspects have been arrested and charged over an alleged KSh 742,000 cement scam.
- The victim intended to purchase 1,400 bags of cement for a construction project in Ruiru.
- She transferred the money through RTGS on August 23, 2025.
- Investigators traced the funds through two bank accounts before identifying alleged withdrawals in Kitengela.
- The fraudulent website and payment details had no connection to Bamburi Cement PLC.
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Five Suspects Arrested Over Fake Cement Website
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has announced the arrest of five individuals suspected of participating in an online fraud scheme that cost a woman KSh 742,000.
According to detectives, the victim was searching for cement in August 2025 to support a family construction project in Ruiru when she came across a website claiming to represent Bamburi Cement PLC.
Believing she was dealing with the legitimate company, she contacted the telephone number displayed on the platform.
The alleged sellers then directed her to continue the negotiations through WhatsApp, where discussions about the purchase were finalised.
How the Woman Lost KSh 742,000
During the negotiations, the victim was issued an invoice amounting to KSh 742,000 for 1,400 bags of cement.
She was instructed to settle the entire amount through a Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transfer to a local bank account.
On August 23, 2025, she made the payment, expecting the cement to be delivered for the construction project.
However, the promised consignment never arrived.
Her attempts to contact the alleged supplier were unsuccessful, prompting her to reach out directly to Bamburi Cement PLC to establish what had happened.
The company reportedly informed her that it had no knowledge of the transaction, leading her to report the matter to the authorities.
DCI Uncovers Fake Website and Payment Trail
Investigations established that the website, telephone number and invoice used to facilitate the transaction were fraudulent.
Detectives also established that the materials had no official authorisation or association with Bamburi Cement PLC.
Further financial investigations reportedly traced the money from an account operated by Florence Atieno Okoth to another account linked to Emmanuel Wekesa, also known as Brian Mulumba.
The funds were subsequently withdrawn through ATM transactions in Kitengela Town.
Five Suspects Taken to Court
Following investigations and intelligence-led operations conducted in Uasin Gishu and Nairobi counties, detectives arrested five suspects believed to have been involved in the alleged scheme.
Those arrested were identified as:
- Florence Atieno Okoth
- Dickson Alalwa Mabati
- Kevin Ongaya Were
- Kelvin Kibet Keter
- Emmanuel Wekesa, alias Brian Mulumba
The five suspects have since been presented before court and charged in connection with the alleged fraud.
Their arrests mark a significant development in the investigation into the loss of the KSh 742,000, although the allegations will be determined through the court process.
DCI Issues Warning Over Online Shopping Scams
Following the arrests, the DCI cautioned Kenyans against making payments to online sellers without first establishing whether they are dealing with genuine businesses.
The agency urged prospective buyers to independently verify websites, telephone contacts, invoices, bank account details and other transaction information before sending money.
Consumers were also encouraged to contact companies directly through their verified communication channels whenever they encounter suspicious online offers.
The incident serves as a reminder that fraudsters can exploit the reputation of established brands to make fake businesses appear legitimate.
For anyone planning a major purchase online, taking a few extra minutes to confirm the seller’s identity could prevent significant financial losses.
As online shopping becomes part of everyday life, one question remains worth asking: how many Kenyans could avoid losing their hard-earned money simply by verifying a seller before making that first payment?
