Man fakes own kidnapping, cuts himself, demands Ksh.100K ransom after losing salary to betting

Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives encountered an unexpected twist on Friday when they rescued a 25-year-old man whose kin had reported as being kidnapped, only to discover that he had orchestrated the entire ordeal.

Nobert Mulwo sparked an entire DCI operation after his kin filed a report at Kajiado Police Station relaying that he had been forcefully bundled into a Toyota Probox by unknown assailants on Thursday night while in Kitengela.

The supposed kidnappers later reached out to Mulwo's sister demanding a Ksh.100,000 ransom to secure his release.

Unbeknownst to her, Mulwo was pulling the strings behind the scenes all along, going so far as inflicting wounds on himself and bounding and gagging himself with ropes.

He would later send the photos to his sister to show the gravity of his alleged predicament and that his kidnappers meant business.

Detectives from the DCI's Crime Research and Operations department immediately swung into action, tracking down Mulwo to Mutuku Lodgings within Kitengela township where they found him restrained.

"Mulwo was freed from the bounds of a rope fastened on his legs and arms and a bloody bandage that kept his mouth shut, a calculated move staged to influence the family to act fast and send the ransom," the DCI said in a statement on X.

A quick interrogation later established that Mulwo was the mastermind behind the whole scheme, plotting the ruse after blowing away his November salary on gambling.

"Upon rescue and brief interrogation, detectives uncovered that the kidnapping was an extortion scheme orchestrated by the 'victim' and his accomplice only identified as Ndolo, after he (Mulwo) lost his entire November salary to betting," said the DCI in a statement on X.

"Recovered were Sh10,100 in cash and the handset he was using to communicate with the family. Also taken as exhibits were a scalpel blade and bandages he was using on the self-inflicted wound to create the impression that his kidnappers were ruthless and meant business."

Mulwo is currently being held at the DCI offices in Kajiado pending processing and arraignment.