For years, a man posing as a humanitarian dedicated to fighting AIDS and poverty allegedly built one of the most audacious fraud networks in Nairobi. Now, 41-year-old Korir, a senior official with the Women and Youth Against Aids and Poverty (WAYAAP), is facing justice after being accused of masterminding a multi-million-shilling scam that preyed on unsuspecting suppliers.
A Charity With a Dark Secret
WAYAAP was registered as a non-profit dedicated to supporting vulnerable women, youth, and families. On the surface, the NGO looked legitimate, complete with glossy brochures, testimonials, and staged outreach events.
But according to investigators, Korir exploited WAYAAP’s brand to trick suppliers into lucrative contracts for bulk goods like sugar, rice, and cooking oil. Instead of reaching vulnerable families, the supplies allegedly vanished into black markets, leaving suppliers unpaid and warehouses empty.
The December 2024 Airport Arrest
The elaborate scheme collapsed in December 2024 when the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) intercepted Korir at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). He was allegedly attempting to flee the country amid a mounting manhunt.
Authorities say his attempted escape followed a Sh32.8 million fraud involving Korir and alleged accomplice Halima Samson Mwongela, another insider at WAYAAP. Together, the pair reportedly duped three suppliers into releasing consignments of goods under the guise of humanitarian aid, only to resell them in Nairobi’s informal markets.
“This was not a one-off mistake. It was a calculated fraud built on the goodwill of charity,” said a senior DCI officer involved in the investigation.
The Victims Speak Out
Several suppliers have since come forward detailing their losses:
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Case 1: A Kibera-based wholesaler lost 100 bags of brown sugar (50kg each) and 575 jerrycans of 20-litre cooking oil worth over Sh9 million. After delivery, Korir allegedly went silent, his phone switched off, and WAYAAP’s offices turned them away.
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Case 2: In early 2023, a Nairobi distributor delivered Sh2.9 million worth of grade-one rice and Sh2 million in cooking oil for a supposed aid outreach. The goods instead resurfaced in informal markets.
Victims say Korir often used official WAYAAP letterheads, testimonials, and even guided them on “site visits” to warehouses to gain credibility.
“We thought we were helping the poor. Instead, we were funding a fraudster’s empire,” lamented one supplier whose firm nearly collapsed under the losses.
A Pattern of Fraud
Investigators have linked Korir to a long trail of fraud cases:
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In May 2024, he was charged at the Milimani Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing Sh17.1 million worth of goods from Kanduyi Investments Limited.
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Records also show bounced cheques in Eldoret, coercive land deals, and unresolved fraud cases dating back to 2022.
Authorities say Korir’s modus operandi was simple yet devastating: pose as a buyer or NGO partner, secure supplies on credit, then resell the goods for cash.
NGO Sector Under Scrutiny
The scandal has reignited debate about oversight in Kenya’s vast NGO sector. With over 10,000 registered non-profits, experts say lax regulation has created room for “briefcase NGOs” to thrive.
A 2023 audit by the NGO Coordination Board flagged hundreds of suspicious entities, but enforcement remains inconsistent.
“Donors and regulators must demand transparency – audited financials, verifiable projects, not just glossy brochures,” said Mary Wanjiku, executive director of Transparency International Kenya.
The Road Ahead
Korir is currently being held at Milimani Law Courts awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy to defraud, obtaining goods by false pretenses, and possible money laundering.
His next hearing is scheduled for October 2025, with prosecutors expected to present evidence of the full scope of his fraudulent operations. Meanwhile, the DCI has urged other victims across the country to step forward, warning that the scam likely extended far beyond Nairobi.
Mwongela, Korir’s alleged accomplice, remains at large.
Conclusion
For suppliers left nursing massive losses, the scandal is more than a financial hit—it is a betrayal of trust in a sector meant to uplift the vulnerable.
As one victim starkly put it:
“We thought we were building futures for the poor. Instead, we bankrolled a fraud.”
The unfolding trial is now seen as a litmus test for how Kenya cracks down on fraudulent NGOs and restores trust in the humanitarian space.