For impersonating top government figures, such as the president's family, at least ten social media users have been arrested.
The First Lady Rachael Ruto, President Ruto's Aide-de-Camp (ADC) Fabian Lengusuranga, Cabinet Secretaries for Defense Adan Duale and Interior Prof. Kithure Kindiki were among those impersonated.
According to the authorities, the impersonation was executed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
For instance, police detained and questioned Michael Wekesa, 19, Isaac Lukando Oduor, 19, and Dennis Kimaru, 25, separately in Sirisia and Kapsabet towns within Bungoma and Nandi counties respectively.
Police say Michael is the main suspect in an impersonation case where he had opened a Facebook account purporting to be working at the office of the First Lady where he managed to scam members of the public on the pretext that he can offer loans.
He would then ask for a deposit as processing fees and the money would then be sent to a phone number and later transfer to a till number under his name.
He was arrested on Friday, October 28, 2022, in Sirisia and booked at Eldoret police station.
Forensic investigations are being carried out on three phones recovered from him and his associate Isaac Lukando Oduor, who was operating a call centre for the scam.
Dennis Kimaru, a bachelor of commerce finance graduate from Kirinyaga University who uses Facebook accounts Mzalendo Kimaru (Jeshii), Mzalendo Kym Korir and Obuntu Family, Twitter account: Mzalendo Kym and Instagram Mzalendo Kym, opened a social media account in the name of Ruto's ADC Fabian Lengusuranga.
Kimaru was arrested on Sunday, October 23, 2022, and detained at Kapsabet police station.
During his interrogation, Kimaru claimed that he opened the account to gain likes and followers on Facebook since the ADC’s appointment was trending on social platforms.
DCI sleuths are pursuing other members of online fraudsters that are giving Kenyans sleepless nights.
A special squad has been formed to pursue those behind the menace. Kenyans are encouraged to report the crime to DCI for action.
The probe files on those arrested are set to be sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for action to prosecute them, police said.
Online impersonation and identity theft have forced leading social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter to employ dedicated staff to control how people use online resources.
As part of the strategy, the companies have embraced the use of verified accounts at a cost to individuals and corporates to promote the credibility of information.
Kenya has experienced tremendous growth in internet and mobile penetration ranking well above other African countries.
This has promoted enterprise and opened up the space for an innovative business environment both in Kenya and beyond.
However, the internet boom has also carried with it a dark cloud encompassing online fraud, identity theft, email and website scams, online bullying, child pornography, online purchase scams, and card fraud among other internet vices.
All stakeholders within the ICT space in government, private sector, media as well as parliament may have to pull together to attain a more enjoyable internet experience in the country, officials in government say.
This can be achieved by developing laws that promote an open secure online platform that guarantees privacy and provides enough safeguards.
In 2021, Duale tabled a computer misuse and cybercrime bill that sought to amend the 2018 Act in the national assembly. However, the bill did not materialize after it failed to gain support of the legislators due to its focus prohibition of sharing pornographic materials which was contentious and for not having senate input.
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