Detectives drawn from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) unearthed how a sting operation led to the arrest of a Sugoi-based musician who impersonated Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to solicit money from unsuspecting Kenyans.
Reports indicated that the sleuths lured the impersonator into a trap with a performance deal. They traced the 22-year-old's phone at a local pool table joint in Sugoi, Uasin Gishu County, on Monday, December 19.
Considering that he was a budding musician, they convinced him they had secured him a performance deal at a local entertainment joint.
To further assure the musician that he had landed a lucrative performance gig, the detectives informed him that they had booked him a private car to use while negotiating for the payment.
The Sugoi-based musician fell to the tricks and boarded the detectives' car.
However, along the way, he realised that he had been apprehended after he eavesdropped on one of the law enforcement officer's phone call.
The musician tried to pull some drama to escape the police dragnet, but he was overpowered, bungled into another car, and driven to Nairobi for questioning.
According to preliminary reports, the Sugoi-based musician created a fake Facebook page bearing Gachagua's details to raise money to bankroll his music career.
Other reports indicated that the 22-year-old, who had over 14,000 followers, was looking for fame by posing as the DP to con Kenyans.
"The benga artist based in Kamplemur village in Sugoi was arrested after he created a fake Facebook account bearing the Deputy President's name and obtained money from unsuspecting citizens, allegedly meant for feeding Kenyans grappling with hunger," DCI stated after arresting him.
"Good evening Kenyans should we gather something for our fellow Kenyans suffering from drought? Let us come together and do a public Harambee for them it will assist them for some time be blessed so much as we support them," read the posts from the impersonator.
Besides being an artist, he earned skills in Motor Vehicle Technology after securing a scholarship from the county government.
The musician is expected to be presented in court on Wednesday, December 28, for impersonating the second in command.
