Nairobi, Kenya – In a startling turn of events, 32-year-old Ruth Wanjiku Kangethe found herself at the center of a fraud scandal, accused of luring a farmer, Ms Mary Wachuka Kinyua, into a deceptive deal. Kangethe, who is facing charges of obtaining money by false pretenses, allegedly posed as a Land Registry employee, claiming she could expedite the processing of a title deed for Kinyua’s land, extracting a sum of Sh44,300 in the process.
According to the prosecution, Kangethe’s involvement in the scam was orchestrated by a mysterious lover she met through a friend. The lover, purportedly an influential politician, orchestrated the entire operation, instructing Kangethe to collect the money from Kinyua. Kangethe, entrapped in the web of deceit, followed the instructions meticulously, receiving the funds from Ms Kinyua as payment for the promised services. However, after the truth unraveled and the victim realized she had been defrauded, Kangethe was promptly reported to the authorities.
During the court hearing at Makadara Law Courts, Kangethe vehemently denied the charges, pleading for leniency. She revealed that she was a single mother of three, solely responsible for her children’s well-being. Despite her pleas, Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti granted her bail, setting it at Sh30,000.
Notably, the alleged mastermind behind the scam, the influential politician who had manipulated Kangethe into committing the crime, remains at large. Authorities are intensifying their efforts to locate and apprehend the elusive figure. Meanwhile, Kangethe is scheduled to return to court on 15 December for mention, with the trial set to commence on 8 July next year.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of online relationships and the lengths to which fraudsters will go to exploit unsuspecting victims. The authorities continue to caution the public to remain vigilant, especially when engaging in financial transactions facilitated by unfamiliar individuals, even if they claim to be influential personalities.
By Newshub