Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have apprehended a man suspected of orchestrating a high-value theft from a Greek tourist during a visit to the Maasai Mara Game Park.
The suspect, identified as Kenas Okello Oyugi, is alleged to have posed as “Jeremiah John” when he accompanied the tourist and his tour guide on an excursion to the world-famous park on August 6. According to investigators, the tourist had landed in Nairobi a day earlier and met Oyugi online before the planned trip.
Once inside the Maasai Mara, the suspect is believed to have slipped away with the tourist’s valuables, including three debit cards, a mobile phone, and a Seiko Crystal wristwatch. Authorities say the theft went beyond physical items shortly after the incident, €25,000 (approximately Ksh 3.7 million) was reportedly withdrawn from the victim’s bank account using the stolen cards.
The Nairobi Region Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau launched a forensic investigation, which quickly dismantled the suspect’s false identity. Their analysis traced Oyugi to a hideout in Nairobi, where officers moved in for the arrest.
A search at the location yielded several items suspected to be linked to the theft, including multiple mobile phones, the stolen wristwatch, Ksh 54,050 in cash, an undisclosed amount in US dollars, and a brand-new tour trek bicycle believed to have been bought using the stolen funds.
The DCI has indicated that investigations are ongoing to determine whether Oyugi is connected to other similar incidents targeting tourists and unsuspecting travellers.
Tourism is a key sector in Kenya’s economy, and authorities have been tightening security measures around major destinations to safeguard visitors. This incident serves as a reminder for tourists to exercise caution, particularly when interacting with strangers met online.
Oyugi is currently being held at the Central Police Station in Nairobi as preparations are made to charge him in court. The DCI has assured both local and international visitors that justice will be pursued swiftly in order to maintain the country’s reputation as a safe and welcoming destination.
