The Nairobi Anti-terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) detectives have arrested a suspected fraudster for allegedly swindling an Ethiopian refugee in Nairobi, over Ksh3 million under the pretence that he could assist him in acquiring Kenyan citizenship.

Rev. Richard Macharia Njuguna, the suspect, from African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) in Juja Farm under the Thika South Diocese of Kiambu County, was arrested at a hotel in Ruiru area along the Eastern Bypass, following a complaint lodged at the Capitol Hill Police Station in Nairobi.

The case was subsequently transferred to the ATPU for thorough investigation.

Investigations have revealed that between December 20, 2024, and February 12, 2025, Rev. Njuguna, who posed as an Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) officer attached to the Directorate of Immigration Services, cunningly tricked the refugee into believing he could facilitate the acquisition of Kenyan citizenship, fraudulently obtaining a total of KSh3,030,500 in the process.

Detectives then searched Njuguna’s house in Khawa West and his vehicle. During the search, the detectives recovered incriminating evidence, including a variety of documents and wooden stamps allegedly belonging to several institutions, such as the Chief Magistrate in Nairobi, Kenya Immigration Officer at JKIA, Immigration Control in Busia, the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya in Somalia, and the Ministry of Lands Head Office, among others.

The DCI have detained the seized items and his vehicle as exhibits in the ongoing investigation.

Meanwhile, Richard Njuguna remains in custody, where he is undergoing processing pending his arraignment.