The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has dismantled a daring criminal network that was running an elaborate impersonation scheme in South Nyanza—complete with fake job cards, letterheads, and official stamps. Seven suspects are now in custody after a high-stakes operation exposed a fraud racket that preyed on unsuspecting citizens in the name of the country’s top anti-graft agency.
According to EACC, the suspects were arrested during coordinated search operations that unearthed incriminating materials designed to give the conmen a veneer of legitimacy. Among the haul were counterfeit EACC identity cards, forged letterheads, and rubber stamps—classic tools of deception.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Ezekiel Kereu Nyakweba, Douglas Amolo Moracha, Zablon Chacha, Benedict Masire, Zedekiah Obara Bisera, Evans Ombusa Onguso, and Peter Kinara Change.
At the center of the syndicate is alleged ringleader Ezekiel Kereu Nyakweba—a man with a checkered past. Investigators revealed that Nyakweba has previously been convicted of impersonation charges, making this latest bust a chilling reminder of how repeat offenders recycle fraudulent tactics to exploit systemic weaknesses.
“The suspects have been escorted to EACC South Nyanza Regional Office for interviews and statement recording. Investigations are ongoing, including forensic analysis of seized items,” the agency confirmed in an official statement.
How the Scam Worked
Preliminary findings suggest the syndicate targeted local business owners, county officials, and even ordinary citizens with threats of investigations and arrest. Victims were allegedly coerced into parting with money to “settle cases” or avoid non-existent corruption charges.
“This was an organized criminal enterprise disguised as a government crackdown,” said an EACC source familiar with the probe. “Their strategy was to weaponize fear of the law against vulnerable targets.”
The arrests come against the backdrop of a worrying trend where fraudsters exploit public trust in oversight institutions to extort money. Just last week, EACC arraigned Teresia Chepkemoi Chepkwony, a Revenue Collection Assistant at Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, for using forged academic papers to secure a job—pocketing Ksh7.59 million in salaries and benefits.
EACC has since urged Kenyans to exercise vigilance and verify the identity of anyone claiming to represent the commission.
“If in doubt, call us before you pay a single shilling,” the agency warned.
With forensic audits underway, the suspects face a litany of charges including impersonation, fraud, and forgery. If convicted, they could serve lengthy prison sentences under the Penal Code and the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
For now, the syndicate’s unmasking is a small but significant victory in the ongoing war against corruption—one that now extends beyond crooked officials to the imposters who trade on public fear of graft probes.
Leave a Reply