A suspect tricking unsuspecting parents by posing as detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations has captured former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko.

Newton Paul Kengere, 29, is suspected of obtaining thousands of shillings from unsuspecting public members in an educational loan advance ruse.

The suspect was caught when authorities found the phone he was using to send phony but misleading messages to targets who were easily tricked at his residence in the Kenyenya sub-county.


On Thursday, January 11, several SIM cards were taken during the operation.

Sonko reported multiple accounts that claimed to be his official handles, leading to the arrest in response to a complaint he filed at the Capital Hill Police Station. 

The suspect used his identity as a member of the Sonko Rescue Team, who was in charge of organizing a program to help low-income parents pay for their children's education, to trick his victims. 

If his victims paid Ksh, he promised 1000 for registration to help them get interest-free loans.

Additionally, he would request that the victims email him their contact information, including their phone numbers, their location, and the loan's intended use. 


As soon as the victims sent in their registration fee, Kengere would beat his feet, the police said, turning from a persistent caller to the aphoristic "Patience pays." 

The DCI Nairobi Area Crime Research and Intelligence Unit team tracked him to his village residence. 

Arraignment is scheduled for Friday, January 19.