A man accused of impersonating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo and defrauding unsuspecting members of the public has been detained for three days.

Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi ordered that Calvince Odhiambo be detained at Kilimani Police Station pending investigation.

Odhiambo will be returned to court on Thursday for further direction.

This followed an application by the investigating officer Senior Sergeant Rinos Musungu attached at DCI headquarters, Operation Support Unit that they need about six more days to enable them complete investigations.

The officer informed the court that the suspect was arrested in Rongo, Migori county in an ongoing crackdown targeting persons impersonating CSs, Principal Secretaries and other senior government officials.

Court heard that Odhiambo is believed to have obtained thousands of shillings from members of the public through a Facebook account bearing the names and images of the ICT boss.

Hapless Kenyans

He is said to have been promising business opportunities, employment and empowerment programmes to hapless Kenyans.

The officer told the court that during the operation, they recovered five mobile phones the suspect has been using in the scheme.

Court heard that detectives are currently pursuing other suspects who have opened accounts in the names of prominent Kenyans and senior Government officials, and are using the accounts to defraud the public.

At the weekend, the DCI advised Kenyans to be wary of such social media accounts and cautioned them not to send money to anyone in order to influence favours.