A businessman in Kitui is counting losses after falling victim to what police describe as a calculated tender fraud scheme, as detectives arrested four suspects accused of posing as senior officers from the Kenya Prisons Service and swindling him out of Sh105,000.

The arrests was made aftee weeks of keen surveillance by investigators who had been tracking the group’s activities amid rising reports of tender-related scams targeting unsuspecting suppliers.

According to police, the suspects allegedly convinced the businessman that they were in a position to secure him a contract to supply vegetables to Kitui GK Prisons.

“By the time my intuition whispered something is off, my cash had already taken a walk, never to return,”narrated the businesses man.

Detectives say the group spoke with apparent authority and presented themselves with confidence, creating the impression of a legitimate government procurement process.

The four suspects identified by investigators as Clement Wachira, Andrew Kimani, Ann Waweru, and Rehema Makandi were arrested inside a black Toyota Harrier (registration KCV 543W), which detectives believe was being used to facilitate their movements during the operation.

The search of the vehicle led to the discovery of what investigators described as an elaborate collection of forged documents and identification materials.

Among the items recovered were 37 fake Kenya Prisons Service tender approval forms, two counterfeit Kenya Prisons Service job IDs, six national ID cards belonging to different individuals, and eight mobile phones. Police say the assortment suggests a well-organized effort designed to deceive multiple targets.

The suspects are currently in custody as detectives expand their investigations to establish whether more individuals may have been defrauded using similar tactics. Authorities urged members of the public to remain vigilant and verify procurement notices through official government channels before engaging in any financial transactions.

The four are expected to be charged once investigations are complete, even as police signal the possibility of uncovering a broader network behind the alleged bogus tender operation.