This archive report was first published on 4 July 2021.
Published on July 4, 2021, a 36-year-old boda-boda operator from Kabusenduk village in Bureti, Kericho County was arrested for a brazen attempt to extort Sh100,000 from his wife by faking his own kidnap.
According to County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO) John Onyango, the suspect was arrested after investigators caught him hiding at a friend's house, waiting for his wife to send the money.
The suspect's wife had reported to the police that her husband had called her, claiming to have been kidnapped and demanding Sh100,000 for his release. However, the suspect had informed his wife that the kidnappers had bound his hands and were speeding to an unknown location along the Kericho-Nakuru highway.
Police officers launched investigations and located the suspect's motorcycle, which was found abandoned at Kebeneti dispensary. After 24 hours of intense intelligence collection and public assistance, the suspect was found hiding at his friend's house.
"The suspect was just relaxing, waiting for ransom money to be sent to him. He was arrested and placed in a police cell to be charged on Monday over the purported kidnap," said Mr. Onyango.
Initial investigations indicated that the suspect's friend was unaware of the sinister plot and was released. The CCIO also revealed that the suspect had taken a loan from a local Saving and Credit Cooperative Society (Sacco) and was facing repossession of his motorcycle.
