An investigation done by Daily Nation uncovers how Mulot, a small town between Bomet and Narok counties, has become Kenya’s hub for mobile fraud.

Over 15 years, what started as simple SIM-swapping scams has grown into a multimillion-shilling cybercrime empire.

Details below:

Scammers steal registration details from victims to access mobile wallets like M-Pesa.

Victims only realize they’ve been defrauded when their lines go off air.

By the time they’re reconnected, their accounts are empty, and loans have been taken in their name.

The fraud often involves phishing calls pretending to be from banks, tricking victims into sharing personal information like passwords.

Scammers exploit these details to drain bank accounts, steal money, and take loans via online lending apps.

This criminal network operates with a clear hierarchy:

—Swappers: Recruits trained to perform fraud for Sh10,000–40,000 averaging Sh15,000.
—Agents: Field workers who support operations.
—Bosses: Leaders who manage the loot and run the syndicate.
Some rogue M-Pesa agents collude in laundering the stolen money.

Shockingly, some parents encourage their children to drop out of school to join the trade. Students, even in primary school, are recruited.

The wealth from fraud fuels a flashy lifestyle for scammers:

—Expensive clothes, jewelry, and cars for seniors.
—Frequenting clubs and ordering pricey drinks.
—Buying land and building identical homes in the region.

This has normalized the crime in some communities, making scammers local heroes.

Mulot is synonymous with fraud and includes hotspots like:

—Mulot Central
—Mulot Olomirani
—Mulot Sunset

As crackdowns intensify, the scammers have spread to counties like Kiambu, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, and Nairobi

Daily Nation’s investigation also reveals rogue M-Pesa agents and even local leaders, including MCAs, collude with the fraudsters.

Law enforcement is struggling, as some officers allegedly demand bribes or offer protection to the scammers.