The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched a search for Albert Komen Kipkechem, a suspected cybercriminal wanted over his alleged involvement in a Sh52 million fraud targeting a payment service provider, a bank and a SACCO.
The DCI said Kipkechem is wanted pursuant to warrants of arrest issued by the Milimani Law Courts after he failed to attend subsequent court sessions.
Kipkechem was charged at the Milimani Law Courts on March 3 and March 12, 2026, with Access with Intent to Commit a Further Offence, contrary to Section 15(1), and Computer Fraud, contrary to Section 26(1)(b), as read with Section 2(a) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act No. 5 of 2018.
He was granted cash bail of Sh1.5 million in one case and Sh500,000 in the other. However, according to the DCI, he subsequently failed to appear in court, prompting the issuance of warrants for his arrest.
The suspect, also known as Jonathan Kiptum Barmasai, is alleged to be the main suspect in two incidents in June 2025 in which more than Sh52 million was lost by the affected institutions.
According to the DCI, the matter was reported to detectives from the Economic and Commercial Crimes Unit attached to the Cyber Fusion Unit at the Central Bank of Kenya. Investigations were subsequently conducted in collaboration with experts from the National Forensic Laboratory and the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau.
Investigators established that the two incidents allegedly involved a similar modus operandi, with the suspect accused of using remote-access software to gain unauthorised access to payment and banking systems before initiating transactions outside the normal payment process.
After obtaining court orders and search warrants, detectives arrested Kipkechem in the Thome area of Nairobi and escorted him to his home in Nakuru, where several items allegedly linked to the investigation were recovered.
Among the items recovered were electronic devices, identity cards allegedly registered fraudulently, a money-counting machine, Kenyan currency, assorted SIM cards and ATM cards registered in other people's names.
Detectives also recovered a Congolese passport bearing Kipkechem's photograph but registered in the name Katempa Ngoy Alexisa, alongside a Congolese identity card bearing the same name.
The DCI has now appealed to members of the public who may know Kipkechem's whereabouts to provide information to the authorities.
The public can report information anonymously through the DCI toll-free hotline 0800 722 203, WhatsApp number 0709 570 000, or the nearest police station. Information can also be reported through the National Police Service emergency numbers 999, 911 or 112.
The allegations against Kipkechem remain subject to determination by the court.
