Monthly Archives: August 2021

A security feature by a Kenyan Police Officer

Francis was approached by a well-dressed man who introduced himself as Joshua. Joshua was not only articulate but had on an expensive classy wristwatch and shoes to match his good taste. He carried himself with the confidence of a handsomely compensated manager. Francis was impressed. But it was Joshua’s next statement that had Francis wowed over.

“I work in one of the Government Ministries as a procurement manager.”

If you are not aware, a hustler meeting a procurement manager from a government office is like a thirsty man walking into a burst pipe bubbling out fresh water.

Joshua told Francis that he looked trustworthy and could do good business with the Ministry.

“You know how we have been getting bad publicity. I need someone that can do an excellent job for the Ministry.”

“My company will deliver,” Francis said, meaning every word of it. One of Francis’s businesses was a computer and accessories firm. Joshua was interested in procuring quality computers through Francis’s firm.

“This is a tender worthy forty million. The Ministry requires a serious firm.” Joshua said, studying Francis.

“I only supply the best in the market.”

Joshua checked his phone.

“My day is packed, but we can have lunch tomorrow.”

“That is perfect for me.” Francis made a mental note to cancel his out-of-town trip.

The following day, Joshua suggested a hotel whose lunch menu would pay one term’s secondary fees for a day scholar in Turkana. Joshua paid their bill and tipped the waiters generously. He seemed to be a frequent visitor to the hotel and popular with the waiters.

For the next three days, Joshua and Francis met and discussed the procurement deal.

“The Government needs the computers. Of course, we will tender publicly.” Joshua said and continued. “But being the manager in procurement, I will make sure that your firm is selected.” This was music to Francis’s ears. His life was about to change. He would finally build their dream home, take his family on holiday, buy his wife her dream car…

“Nothing in life is for free. For my sweat, I only need twenty percent of the deal.” Joshua interrupted Francis’s new life vision. Francis was to quote one hundred million shillings worth of consignment to deliver to the ministry. He was however to deliver computers worth 40 million shillings. Joshua was to ensure that Francis was paid as quoted and invoiced, one hundred million shillings, pay Joshua his cut, which was to be shared with the Ministry boss and other people in on the deal. Francis agreed to everything.

Joshua gave Francis the necessary procurement documents. Francis noted that they all had government seals and were printed on the Ministry letterhead. To up his confidence, Francis also visited Joshua in the said Ministry office. He was ushered into a massive board room. A friendly chubby lady introduced herself as Joshua’s secretary and served Francis coffee. Joshua came to the board room accompanied by another smartly dressed man.

“Caleb is the PA –personal assistant to the CS.” Joshua introduced the two and said that since the boss – Cabinet Secretary- was part of the deal, the three needed to discuss this away from prying eyes.

A driver was waiting outside the office. He chauffeured the three to the same high-end hotel. Caleb informed Francis that the CS had asked for the goodwill of five million as an assurance that Francis would not take off with the one hundred million once it was paid. It had to be in cash, either in shillings but preferably in US dollars. Two days later, Caleb, sounding very excited called Francis.

“The CS wants to meet you.”

Francis dropped everything that he was doing and showed up looking sharp and serious. He was ushered into the board room. But after waiting for a while, the secretary apologised and informed Caleb and Francis that the CS had to rush out to an urgent meeting but that he had endorsed the deal. It was agreed that Francis would show up with the money. The driver ushered Francis out and mentioned how good a person the CS was and how his life had changed because of him.

After a week, Joshua called Francis and told him that he needed to deliver the procurements documents well completed and sealed, all requirements attached. He was also to come with the cash. He had only managed to put together two million.

“Don’t worry. You bring the documents, they are more urgent. We will give them the two million for now as you raise the balance.” Joshua said.

Francis brought the duly filled documents and the two million shillings.

“As you raise the balance, ensure that you are also sourcing only for the best quality computers,” Joshua said. Francis assured him that he had already contacted the manufacturer. But four days later, Joshua called him and told him that the boss had said to refund the two million back to Francis.

“He thinks that you are not serious,” Joshua said and told Francis that they could meet at the same place for him to collect his money. Francis was stunned. Was forty million going to disappear just like that? He could not lose out on a deal of a lifetime. He beseeched Joshua to convince the boss that by that evening Francis would raise another one million shillings.

“I have also paid for half of the consignment. Please tell him that I am very serious.” After consultations on phone, Joshua told Francis that the boss had one condition if the deal was to continue. Francis was to deliver the consignment of computers worth twenty million shillings to what he was informed was a government warehouse on Mombasa road, plus the one million shillings. The balance of two million shillings was to be delivered within two weeks, at the time of his invoicing for the one hundred million shillings pay from the Ministry. Francis delivered the computers in the said warehouse, plus the one million shillings to Joshua.

Five days later, Francis tried to call Joshua but his phone was off. Joshua’s phone was off the whole day, evening and that night, and the following day. Francis had Caleb’s number but it too was off. He decided to go to the Ministry office and asked to see Joshua, the procurement manager. After a few minutes, he was directed to an office, where he met a short, stout man.

“Yes? I am Joshua. How can I help you?”

“I wanted to see Joshua, the procurement manager,” Francis said.

“I am the procurement manager.” The man said. Francis had never seen him before.

“I know the other Joshua. He is tall and slim.”

This short stout Joshua told Francis that maybe he was in the wrong office and called the secretary, a slim elderly woman.

“The other secretary was chubby.” Francis blurted. Now, they got curious. They asked him to sit down and explain himself. He told them everything. They looked at him as if he was a retard. It was at this moment that he finally realised that he had been conned.

He showed up at the station, looking like a tractor had run through him. My colleague, detective Reuben of the Fraud And Obtaining Department could not convince the now distraught Francis that there would be nothing in the warehouse on Mombasa road.

“You Police must take me there. Let’s go there now!” Francis was screaming.

Detective Reuben and I followed Francis to the warehouse. We had dealt with similar cases before and were not surprised at the outcome. At the said warehouse, we met traders offloading Mitumba bails.

“I want the owner of this warehouse!” Francis shouted. We met the owner who showed us an agreement indicating that Francis had hired the warehouse for a week. Attached were Francis’s copies of the national identification card and the payment receipt. We checked the phone numbers that Joshua and Caleb had used. They were newly registered numbers under fictitious names.

“How is this possible?” Francis stammered.

“People buy phone lines in the streets daily.” Detective Reuben told him. Francis did not want to believe that it was his fault that he was conned. He was so angry at us, the police, and was convinced that somehow we were involved.

You see, Karau has to be blamed for everything. Utumishi kwa wote comes with the territory.
Officer Karao is a law-abiding citizen