Nairobi Man Arrested After Allegedly Spending KSh 6.7 Million Mistakenly Sent to His Account
NAIROBI, Kenya — October 26, 2026
A Nairobi man has been arrested after allegedly spending KSh 6.7 million that was mistakenly deposited into his bank account following a payment processing error involving a company’s routine transactions.
The suspect, identified as Dickson Yiaile Sitei, was arrested on Saturday, October 24, along Lantana Road in Westlands, Nairobi, by detectives from the Banking Fraud Investigation Unit.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the case dates back to November 18, 2025, when a company was processing 74 electronic payments.
One of the transactions was a legitimate rent payment of KSh 72,000 owed to Sitei for premises occupied by the company’s shop in Suswa.
However, a processing error resulted in an additional KSh 6,744,354 intended for another company being deposited into his bank account.
How the KSh 6.7 Million Was Transferred
The company discovered the error and sought to recover the money, which had been transferred to the wrong account.
Investigators allege that Sitei used the funds rather than returning them to their rightful owner.
The DCI subsequently launched an investigation into the transaction and the circumstances surrounding the alleged spending of the money.
The case highlights the potential consequences of receiving a large sum through a banking error and failing to arrange its return.
Two Charges Recommended Against the Suspect
After investigating the matter, detectives forwarded the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for review.
Following its assessment, the ODPP directed that the suspect face two charges.
The first is intentional withholding of an erroneously delivered payment under Section 35 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018.
The second is money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering Act.
The suspect was in custody undergoing processing ahead of his court appearance, according to reports published on Monday.
The allegations have not been proven in court, and the suspect is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
DCI Warns Kenyans Against Spending Money Sent by Mistake
The DCI has cautioned members of the public that money mistakenly deposited into a bank account does not automatically become the recipient’s property.
People who discover an unexpected payment should contact their bank through official channels and arrange for the funds to be returned to the rightful owner.
The warning is relevant to both bank transfers and mobile-money transactions, where errors can result in money reaching unintended recipients.
Financial institutions can help establish the source of a payment and guide customers through the appropriate reversal or recovery procedures.
What Happens Next?
The case is expected to proceed through the criminal justice system, where prosecutors will present the allegations and the court will consider the evidence.
It remains unclear from the available reports how much of the KSh 6.7 million was recovered, if any.
The incident serves as a reminder that money received through an apparent payment error should not be treated as a financial windfall.
RickyMedia.co.ke will continue following this story and share verified updates as more information becomes available.
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