DCI Cautions Public after Woman Loses Ksh130,000 in Mombasa Airbnb Scam

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested a man accused of conning a woman of Ksh130,000 in an online accommodation scam targeting holidaymakers heading to the Coast.

In a statement Sunday, November 8, the DCI said its Nyali Sub-County detectives acted on investigative leads to trail and arrest Nelson Okota Odhiambo in Bamburi, bringing his alleged scheme to an end.

Okota is accused of defrauding a female client of Ksh130,000 after claiming he could secure Airbnb accommodation for her in Nyali.

The accommodation never materialised, leaving the woman out of pocket.

According to the country's august investigative body, the alleged fraud may not be limited to one victim.

"Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspect has extended his fraudulent enterprise beyond Nyali, targeting unsuspecting travellers planning visits to Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties," the DCI said in a statement.

The suspect remains in custody as police process him ahead of his arraignment.

The arrest comes as many Kenyans begin planning holidays ahead of the festive season, when demand for coastal accommodation typically rises and online scammers find more targets.

The DCI has urged members of the public to be careful when booking places to stay online.

"Verify the property, confirm the host's legitimacy and think twice before making suspicious payments," the agency advised.

The DCI said it would keep pursuing such suspects.

"The DCI remains firmly on the trail of those turning holiday dreams into financial nightmares," the statement read.

In other news, DCI sleuths recently arrested five people over an online fraud scheme that cost a woman Ksh742,000 while she was attempting to purchase cement for a family construction project in Ruiru.

Investigators established that the victim was deceived through a fake website posing as Bamburi Cement PLC.

After finding the site in August 2025, she contacted the phone number listed, believing it belonged to the cement manufacturer.

She was subsequently directed to WhatsApp, where negotiations were conducted and payment terms agreed upon.

On August 23, 2025, the woman transferred KSh742,000 via RTGS for the purchase of 1,400 bags of cement. However, the consignment was never delivered.

Efforts to contact the supposed supplier failed, prompting her to reach out directly to Bamburi Cement PLC, where she learned the company had no knowledge of the transaction. She then reported the matter to police.

According to the DCI, financial investigations traced the stolen funds to bank accounts linked to two suspects, with further findings showing the money was withdrawn through ATM transactions in Kitengela, Kajiado County.

Intelligence-led operations in Nairobi and Uasin Gishu counties led to the arrest of Florence Atieno Okoth, Dickson Alalwa Mabati, Kevin Ongaya Were, Kelvin Kibet Keter and Emmanuel Wekesa, alias Brian Mulumba.

They have since been charged in court.