A Meru University IT dropout, Seth Mwabe, has been released on a KSh500,000 bond after being accused of masterminding a daring cyberattack on a popular betting company, allegedly stealing KSh11.4 million.
Mwabe, 26, was arrested last weekend at his luxurious Tatu City apartment, where detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) claim they discovered a fully equipped IT lab, complete with advanced gadgets, customized software, a money-counting machine, and a secure safe.
According to investigators, Mwabe reportedly designed a sophisticated system that bypassed the betting firm’s payment provider security checks, allowing him to divert millions into his personal account.
Despite the serious accusations, the court ruled that detectives had not presented enough evidence to justify his continued detention. While granting bond, Magistrate Ben Mark Ekubi cautioned him against interfering with investigations and ordered him to report to the DCI weekly.
Mwabe, who described himself as a cybersecurity engineer and IT consultant, allegedly told investigators that his work focuses on testing vulnerabilities in digital payment systems.
The case has sparked heated debate on Kenya’s growing cybercrime threat, with experts warning that betting companies and financial institutions must strengthen their digital defenses to avoid similar breaches.
