'Flirting with death?': Ex-sim swap criminal abandons thug life for fear of karma

However, at the Mulot business center on the border of Narok and Bomet counties, Mpesa kiosks remain a nightmare, due to the numerous scammers.

In 2021, a notorious fraudster named ‘David Mutai’ alias Matindwet was arrested in Kericho by detectives after he infiltrated networks and stole money from 481 accounts.

Raids of his hideouts led to the seizure of eight phone cards in the central Mulot area while his accomplices escaped.

The fraudsters, who are in their 20s and 30s, have duped many innocent residents by masquerading as staffers of telcos and getting them to divulge secret information, which is then used to rob them. 

However, one fraudster has ‘seen the light’ and divulged how he decided to leave his life of crime and turn over a new leaf.

We will call him ‘Kengele’ as he requested anonymity for fear of being targeted for revealing his past life. 

 Kengele sat for his KCSE exam in 2015 and got a B+ but took a path of crime for 10 years.

He abandoned his criminal activities after witnessing his fellow thugs die.

‘….I have been involved in many businesses,..one of which is sim swapping which I was taught,” he said.

“I decided to stop this life after seeing so many of my colleagues dying in mysterious ways, from freak accidents, to suddenly losing consciousness then dying and I thought to myself, these deaths must be related to our criminal activities,” Kengele said.

Kengele recounted stealing money from a funeral with a group of thugs and they were involved in an accidentin which they died.

He said he feared he would be next if he didn’t stop his criminal activities. 

Kengele said Sigor area and Mulot are crime hotspots, adding that some rogue police officers enable the activity by accepting bribes from culprits. 

“Forgive me for all I have done. I know I have caused many families losses and pain,” he said.

Alexon Mututua, a trader in Narok, said that criminals should be brought to book, not just apologise and go scot free. 

He narrated how he was robbed of all his savings, which he wanted to invest in his business.

 Janet Saoli, also recounted losing Ksh. 75,000 to sim swap fraud. 

She also said that the criminals need to be brought to book, adding that the church should also play a strong part in condemning crime.