West Pokot County Assembly Speaker Fredrick Kaptui is among 9 suspects charged with conspiring to defraud Eco-Pillar Sacco over KSh260 million by manipulating Sacco link transaction systems, creating fraudulent accounts, fake loans and unauthorised withdrawals.
The accused, who include former and current officials of the Sacco, face nine counts contained in a charge sheet filed before the Senior Principal Magistrate’s Court in Kapenguria, West Pokot County.
According to the charge sheet, the nine allegedly conspired between 2018 and 2025 to defraud the Sacco of Sh260,008,100 through the manipulation of Sacco Link transaction systems, creation of fraudulent accounts, issuance of fictitious loans and unauthorised withdrawals into personal bank accounts.
Those named in the conspiracy charge are Fredrick Kaptui Plimo, the current West Pokot County Assembly Speaker; Linus Lokira; Paul Lokitari Ywapamoi, the MCA for Kodich Ward; Leonard Pchakasan Domoita; Nicholas Toroitch Arusho; Andrew Poriot Lorema; Susan Chesang; Florence Chemotwo; and Francis Atodosia.
Six of the accused appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Stella Telewa at the Kapenguria Law Courts on Thursday, while three others were absent. The six did not take plea, according to the court proceedings.
The court directed the three absent suspects to appear on November 5, 2026, and warned that warrants of arrest would be issued if they failed to attend. The absent suspects are Fredrick Siywat Plimo, Paul Loktari and Frank Atodosia.
The prosecution has preferred separate charges against some of the accused, including stealing by servant, unauthorised interference with a computer system, cheating and abuse of office.
Lokira is accused of allegedly stealing Sh12.1 million belonging to the Sacco, while Domoita faces a separate charge involving Sh37.752 million. Lorema is accused of stealing Sh6.9 million, while Arusho allegedly stole Sh13.6038 million during the period covered by the charges. Chesang is also accused of allegedly stealing Sh8.1 million from the Sacco.
Domoita, Lorema and Arusho are jointly charged with unauthorised interference with a computer system, contrary to Section 16(3)(a) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act. The prosecution alleges that the three interfered with the Sacco’s integrated financial database by introducing malicious code, causing financial entries to be altered and resulting in the alleged loss of Sh260,008,100.
Chemotwo faces a charge of cheating over an alleged transaction involving a Sh3 million deposit. The prosecution alleges that between October 22, 2024, and December 28, 2025, she used fraudulent tricks to induce the Sacco to pay her Sh1.161 million in interest beyond what she would otherwise have received.
Plimo and Lokira are jointly accused of abuse of office. The prosecution alleges that, while serving as chief executive officers of the Sacco at different times, they arbitrarily directed Sacco funds to be deposited into various personal bank and M-Pesa accounts.
The two are further accused of allegedly forcing junior employees to surrender ATM cards and personal identification numbers for use in the purported transactions, with the prosecution claiming that some staff were threatened with termination of employment.
The charges cite provisions of the Penal Code and the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act. Eco-Pillar Sacco Society Limited is listed as the complainant, with several witnesses named in the charge sheet.
The document indicates that the accused were arrested without warrants on August 8, 2026, and that the matter was scheduled for mention before the court on October 29, 2026.
The allegations have not been proved in court. All the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The court is expected to address the plea and bond-related matters for the accused who appear before it, with the case proceeding in accordance with the court’s directions.
