In a high-stakes operation that has shocked the business community, detectives from Kamukunji have arrested a 38-year-old woman who masterminded a complex scam that duped a Chinese investor out of over USD 101,000 in a fake aluminium export deal.
Harriet Mary Wabwire, now behind bars, allegedly posed as the Director of a little-known firm, OTD Group Limited, convincing her unsuspecting victim that she could facilitate the shipment of 23,890 kilograms of aluminium alloys from the Port of Mombasa to Ningbo, China.
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To make the ruse appear legitimate, Wabwire forged key trade documents — a bill of lading and a Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) certificate of conformity — in what investigators are calling one of the most “calculated and convincing” scams in recent times.
“She exploited the trust and credibility expected in international trade,” said a senior DCI officer at Kamukunji. “This was not just fraud; it was industrial-level deception.”
The Chinese businessman, whose identity remains undisclosed for safety reasons, transferred USD 101,000 to Wabwire’s account in good faith. But the moment the funds cleared, she vanished — switching off her phone and disappearing without a trace.
“It felt like dealing with a ghost,” the victim reportedly told investigators. “One moment we were discussing shipping timelines, the next she was unreachable, and the container never existed.”
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Detectives, aided by forensic banking and telecom surveillance, traced her movements to Tassia estate, where she had been hiding for several weeks. She was arrested during a covert sting operation on Thursday night.
“This arrest should send a strong message to con artists targeting foreign investors,” warned Nairobi Regional Police Commander, David Bungei. “We are tightening the noose on fraudsters who tarnish the country’s image.”
Wabwire is currently in police custody pending formal arraignment in court, where she is expected to face multiple charges including obtaining money by false pretence, forgery, and impersonation.
“We are pursuing additional leads to determine whether she acted alone or is part of a wider criminal network,” said DCI Spokesperson Paul Ndambuki.
The case raises fresh concerns over the growing number of export-related scams in Kenya, which have seen foreign investors defrauded under the guise of lucrative commodities such as gold, tea, and industrial metals.
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