Sh96 million cyber heist: ‘fugitive’ nabbed in Kericho after bail, three court no-shows
Albert Komen Kipkechem, also known as Jonathan Kiptum Barmasai
A man accused of using remote-access technology to execute multimillion-shilling fraud against financial institutions has been remanded in custody after he was arrested in Kericho, months after he allegedly stopped attending court.
Albert Komen Kipkechem, also known as Jonathan Kiptum Barmasai, was brought before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Teresia Nyangena on a warrant of arrest after failing to appear before the court on three occasions.
Kipkechem had previously been released on cash bail in two separate criminal cases in which he is accused of illegally accessing computer systems and facilitating the withdrawal of millions of shillings.
The prosecution opposed his release, informing the court that the bond posted by his sureties had been forfeited to the State following his repeated failure to attend the proceedings.
His lawyer, Alfred Achioya, sought to have the earlier bond terms restored, arguing that Kipkechem had been unwell.
The magistrate declined the request and ordered that he be held in custody until November 5, when his sureties are expected to appear and explain his failure to ensure that he attended court as required.
Kipkechem is facing two separate cases involving alleged unauthorised access to computer systems belonging to a local bank and Eclectic International.
The charges relate to alleged losses of Sh44 million and Sh52 million respectively.
In the cases, he had been granted cash bail of Sh1.5 million and Sh500,000.
His failure to attend subsequent hearings resulted in warrants being issued for his arrest.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) later circulated his details in a public alert as detectives sought to locate him.
The DCI had earlier accused Kipkechem of being connected to a wider fraud investigation involving a payment service provider, a bank and a SACCO, in which more than Sh52 million was allegedly lost in June 2025.
Investigators from the Economic and Commercial Crimes Unit, working with the Cyber Fusion Unit at the Central Bank of Kenya, allegedly traced the fraud to unauthorised access to payment and banking platforms.
According to the DCI, remote-access software was allegedly used to gain entry into the systems, after which transactions were processed outside the ordinary payment process.
The agency said Kipkechem was arrested in the Thome area of Nairobi before detectives searched his residence in Nakuru.
Among the items recovered during the operation were electronic devices, several SIM cards and ATM cards registered in other people’s names, suspected fraudulently registered identity cards, cash and a money-counting machine.
Detectives also recovered a Congolese passport bearing Kipkechem’s photograph but issued in the name of Katempa Ngoy Alexisa, together with a Congolese identity card bearing the same name, according to the DCI.
Kipkechem was charged on March 3 and March 12, 2026, under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
The charges include access with intent to commit a further offence under Section 15(1) and computer fraud under Section 26(1)(b) of the Act.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on bail.
The DCI subsequently issued an alert on September 21 after he failed to attend court as required.
The agency described him as a resident of Baringo North Sub-County’s Kabartonjo Division.
Kipkechem will remain in custody pending the November 5, 2026 hearing, when the court is expected to hear from his sureties on his repeated absence.
