Migori: The family of Seth Mwabe, a university dropout accused of hacking a betting firm and stealing Sh11.4 million, have thanked the police for protecting their son while he was in police custody. Speaking at their home in Wasimbete Ward, Suna West Sub-County, Migori, while welcoming him back home on Thursday night, his father, Pastor Kennedy Mwabe, expressed surprise upon learning that his son was making headlines while he was occupied with church matters.
According to Kenya News Agency, Seth Mwabe, a 26-year-old Meru University IT dropout, was released on an Sh500,000 bond on September 3, after being accused of hacking into a major betting firm's system and stealing Sh11.4 million. The court ruled that detectives failed to provide adequate grounds to continue holding the suspect, who was arrested at his apartment in Tatu City, Kiambu County, on August 30 by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
While granting bond, Magistrate Ben Mark Ekubi cautioned Mwabe against interfering with the ongoing probe into the high-profile cyber fraud case. According to the DCI report, the betting firm made a complaint in July, leading the Banking Fraud Unit detectives to launch an investigation. They established that the fraud was executed by bypassing the payment service provider's security systems.
Mwabe, who describes himself as a cybersecurity engineer and consultant, had informed investigators that his expertise involves testing vulnerabilities in payment systems. His father expressed shock at the items seized by police in Mwabe's residence, describing his son as a shy and quiet individual who does not socialise much.
On August 30, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Banking Fraud Investigations Unit discovered a makeshift computer lab in Mwabe's two-bedroom apartment in Tatu City. The setup included advanced servers, laptops, a money-counting machine, and a safe. Pastor Kennedy Mwabe thanked the Capitol Hill police station for their humane treatment of his son and also expressed gratitude towards Gen Zs for their moral support, as well as the media and the court for ensuring his son's safe return home.
Philip Mwabe, Seth's uncle, stated that the family would counsel Seth to help integrate him back into society, urging the State to consider his knowledge as a national asset rather than focusing on negativity.