Speaker Justin Muturi Conned of Ksh300,000 by MP Impersonator

National Assembly Committee on Security and National Administration on Tuesday heard that Speaker Justin Muturi was conned of Ksh300,000 by a man impersonating a Member of Parliament.

The speaker was allegedly duped by the fraudster who posed a legislator in need of money to buy medication - a plea to which Muturi unsuspiciously obliged to.

During the hearing, it was revealed that a number of Cabinet Secretaries and MPs had fallen prey to conmen posing as legislators in distress - among them was former Migori Senator Wilfred Machage who was said to have lost Ksh200,000.

[caption caption="Speaker Justin Muturi"][/caption]

CSs Peter Munya (EAC Community), Eugene Wamalwa (Devolution) and Margret Kobia (Public Service) were among those who had allegedly fallen victim to the scam.

Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Chege testified that a conman had used her name to make a call for help to three CSs.

“Those who sent the money saw that the M-Pesa number had been registered under Sabina Wanjiku Chege. That is why they did not suspect anything. It wasn't until former MP Jakoyo Midiwo asked me about it the following day that I learnt of it. Many other people had been sent the same message,” she told the committee.

Ms Chege lamented that police were yet to take action on the man despite being provided with his personal information

“As late as yesterday, the chief architect of this racket was still using this number. It is only today that I have realised he is no longer online. Many MPs have also reported the matter but there has been no arrest," she explained.

Earlier last week, two Multimedia University students were arraigned in court on charges of impersonating the Murang'a legislator and defrauding former Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo.

Derrick Kemutai Ng’etich and Edwin Nderitu Warukira allegedly carried on conversations with Mr Midiwo via text message convincing him that they were the female legislator.

[caption caption="Former Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo"][/caption]

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