University Dropout Freed on Ksh500K Bail in Betting Fraud Case
The prosecutor also asked for access to M-PESA and bank accounts associated with Mwabe, citing that he was a flight risk.
The court dismissed an application by the prosecutors who wanted the suspect detained for 20 additional days to enable completion of investigations. They had argued that Mwabe be detained to enable forensic analysis of electronic items recovered from him. PHOTO/Zipporah Ngwatu
By Juliet Jerotich
A Nairobi court has released university dropout Seth Mwabe Okwanyo, who faces hacking and forgery charges of stealing millions of money from a betting firm. He was directed to pay a bond of Ksh1 million with a surety of Ksh1 million. Otherwise, he could also gain his liberty for a cash bail of Ksh500,000.
The ruling was delivered on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, by Milimani Principal Magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi. The magistrate directed that Mwabe produce three people to be contacted as part of bail conditions.
The court dismissed an application by the prosecutors who wanted the suspect detained for 20 additional days to enable completion of investigations. They had argued that Mwabe be detained to enable forensic analysis of electronic items recovered from him, which included phones, computers, internet routers, and phone motherboards.
The prosecutor also asked for access to M-PESA and bank accounts associated with Mwabe, citing that he was a flight risk. The magistrate, however, ordered that the request did not hold any merit, citing that the accused should not disrupt the ongoing investigations.
“I find no justification in denying the respondent his liberty,” Magistrate Ekhubi said.
Alternatively, Mwabe was directed to report to the investigating officer, Julius Cheruiyot, weekly until the case is next advanced.
Mwabe faces charges under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act of unauthorised access under Section 14(1) and access with intent to commit other crimes under Section 15(1). He is also being investigated for theft, in contravention of Sections 268(1) and 275 of the Penal Code.
The claims are filed on the basis of a complaint submitted by Afrisend Money Transfer Limited. In an August 25, 2025, letter to the Banking Fraud Investigations Unit, the company claimed that on July 16, 2025, that 38 fake transactions were made through a local bank. The transactions were said to have bypassed the company’s monitoring system, resulting in a loss of Ksh11,410,165.
Mwabe was arrested on August 30, 2025, at his residence in Tatu City. The detectives believe that he accessed the betting firm’s systems in an unlawful way to facilitate the fake transfers.
The case will be mentioned on October 7, 2025, as the investigations continue.
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