Faith Mwikali Ndiwa has been arraigned in court on multiple charges, including forgery, falsifying contract documents, and obtaining money through pretenses.
Ndiwa is accused of orchestrating an elaborate fraud scheme that duped a Nigerian investor, Jude Olabayo Veracruz, out of Ksh25 million.
The fraud began in May 2022 when Ndiwa posed as an investor seeking financial advice from Veracruz, the CEO of a bank in Nigeria. She initially sought his expertise in managing Ksh70 million.
Building on this engagement, she later proposed a lucrative business opportunity involving a contract to supply mosquito nets, falsely claiming she worked for a relative of Raila Odinga, a prominent Kenyan political figure.
Ndiwa convinced Veracruz to invest in the purported project by promising significant returns. She backed her claims with forged documents, including a fake framework contract and an amendment, which she alleged were for a tender with the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA). This deception led Veracruz to transfer Ksh25 million in installments between June and December 2022.
However, after receiving the funds, Ndiwa vanished, cutting off all communication. The suspicious investor reported the matter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), leading to an investigation that uncovered the fraudulent nature of the contract.
Authorities found that Ndiwa had used the money to purchase a high-end vehicle and had fabricated her professional credentials, falsely claiming associations with reputable organizations and a job as a physician for the First Lady.
Ndiwa was arrested on May 18, 2024, and has been charged with eight counts of forgery, falsifying contract documents, and obtaining money through pretenses.
During her court appearance before Milimani Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi on May 27, 2024, the prosecution opposed her release on bond, citing the need for further investigation and detailing the risk of her absconding. Consequently, Ndiwa was detained at Lang’ata Prison pending a bail hearing on May 28, 2024.
