A case that has drawn the attention of many Kenyans involves a 20-year-old university student accused of orchestrating a cybercrime that cost Sidian Bank millions of shillings.
The student, identified as Collins Mutuma, a Bachelor of Education (Science) student at Mount Kenya University, is facing serious charges after allegedly hacking into the bank’s system and stealing more than KSh7.8 million.
Mutuma was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina at the Milimani Law Courts on Monday, October 27, 2025, where he denied all the charges brought against him.According to the prosecution, the alleged crime took place on January 11, 2025, at an undisclosed location in Kenya.
Investigators believe Mutuma worked with several unidentified individuals to illegally access Sidian Bank’s network and transfer money from multiple customer accounts into his personal account at Diamond Trust Bank (DTB).
Court records show that a total of KSh7,882,845 was stolen, including KSh471,302 from the account of one customer, identified as Peninah Karoki.
Further investigations revealed that shortly after receiving the money, Mutuma sent KSh300,000 to a man named Dominic Gichiri Kagwina and another KSh169,000 to an M-Pesa account registered under Samuel Mukola Matheka.
Prosecutors believe these transfers were part of an attempt to hide the origin of the stolen funds and make it harder for authorities to trace the money.
The prosecution described the operation as a carefully planned digital theft involving multiple players.
Mutuma is now facing three charges conspiracy to defraud, stealing, and acquisition of proceeds of crime. In his defense, he has maintained his innocence, claiming that he is being wrongfully accused.
His lawyer told the court that Mutuma is a victim of mistaken identity, arguing that the real criminals are still free and that his client does not have the skills or resources to carry out such a complex cyberattack.
The defense further urged the court to consider that Mutuma is a young student with no prior criminal record.
After listening to both sides, Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina granted Mutuma a cash bail of KSh200,000 with one contact person.
The case was set for a pre-trial hearing on November 3, 2025, as investigators continue their work to trace other individuals suspected to have participated in or benefited from the stolen funds.
Prosecutors have described the matter as part of a wider cyber fraud network that has been targeting financial institutions across Kenya.
This case comes just weeks after another similar incident involving a 26-year-old Meru University dropout who was arrested at Tatu City for allegedly hacking into a payment service provider connected to a betting company and stealing KSh11.4 million.
The two cases have raised concerns about the growing threat of cybercrime among young people in the country.
Authorities from the Banking Fraud Investigations Unit have warned that such crimes are increasing as digital banking becomes more widespread, urging financial institutions to strengthen their cybersecurity systems.
The ongoing case has sparked public debate about the vulnerability of Kenya’s financial sector to cyberattacks and the urgent need for stronger digital safeguards.
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