Safaricom employee allegedly defrauded users of sh29m using stolen mobile lines

David Obwanga Adoyo, a Safaricom Trade Development Representative (TDR), has been accused of using people’s national identification card numbers to register mobile lines, resulting in the theft of over Sh29.5 million from the National Police DT Sacco Society Limited.

Facing six fraud charges, Mr Adoyo appeared before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate, Gilbert Shikwe, in Kenya.

Prosecution counsel Judy Koech informed the magistrate that Adoyo would be tried alongside M-Pesa Agents previously arraigned for the same fraud last year. It is alleged that Adoyo conspired with others to steal from the National Police DT Sacco Society.

David Obwanga Adoyo, the Safaricom Trade Development Representative (TDR) facing fraud charges, is accused of aiding and abetting the alleged offence. He is alleged to have facilitated the registration of five mobile numbers (799107895, 741290372, 768890678, 793581012, and 796338248) using national identification cards (IDs) without the owners’ consent.

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Safaricom employee linked stolen mobile lines to Sacco accounts, withdrew over Sh12.9m

Accused Safaricom employee, Mr Adoyo, reportedly connected the stolen mobile lines to sacco members’ accounts, initiating withdrawals totalling Sh12,954,937 through M-Pesa agents. The prosecution has identified the individuals whose IDs were allegedly used without consent as Godfrey Njuguna Lucas, Peris Njoki Mwangi, Kesia Wangari Maina, and Beth Wambui Murage.

According to a report by BusinessDaily, Ms Koech stated, ”This case will be consolidated with another in which suspects have been charged and are out on a cash bail of Sh1 Million. I urge this court to invoke the same bail terms in the case before the court.”

Legal proceedings unfold: Replicated bail terms for Adoyo, joint charges with M-Pesa operators

Justice Shikwe’s consistent imposition of bail terms requires Mr Adoyo to deposit Sh1 million in cash. The upcoming mention, set for two weeks, aims to consolidate the case and establish a hearing date. Notably, Mr Adogo is now implicated alongside M-Pesa operators Ms Jane Njoki Gaitho, Alexander Odhiambo Otieno, and ICT expert Brian Samba Oluoch.

This financial misappropriation is alleged to have occurred between August 2021 and April 15, 2022, coinciding with the charges against Adoyo. The M-Pesa operators are further charged with money laundering for facilitating access to the embezzled Sh7,035,200, knowing it was pilfered from the thrift institution.

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