Detectives attached to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s office have arrested a Uasin Gishu-based benga musician, accused of impersonation.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) says the musician – Collins Kipleting Serem alias Rengstar – was arrested after he allegedly created a fake Facebook page account bearing the name of the DP.
Further, according to the DCI, Rengstar, based in Kamplemur village, Sugoi, Turbo Sub County used the fake DP Gchagua’s Facebook account to obtain money from unsuspecting netizens.
It is claimed that the 22-year-old musician also posted on the account, which has over 14,000 followers, asking Kenyans to contribute money he claimed could be used to help citizens affected by hunger.
“The suspect published a Paybill number connected to an account at Eldoret’s Standard Chartered bank and appealed to his over 14K followers to come together and raise funds for the victims of hunger, promising God’s blessings to those who would heed to the appeal,” DCI said in a statement of their verified Facebook page.
But after the post, sleuths attached to the Deputy President’s office launched a manhunt for the suspect and arrested him in Sugoi, Uasin Gishu county.
“The suspect is currently in custody being processed for arraignment,” the DCI said.
The arrest comes just months after police cautioned Kenyans against individuals that had opened fake accounts of prominent leaders, among them the first lady Mama Rachael Ruto.
Those running the accounts, police warned, were also conning Kenyans hundreds of thousands, among others fake loan and job scams.
