A Nairobi court has detained Albert Komen Kipkechem, alias Jonathan Kiptum Barmasai, and charged him with computer misuse and cybercrime, and computer fraud until Thursday, March 12, 2026.

Kipkechem has been charged with access with intent to commit a further offence contrary to Section 15(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act No. 5 of 2016.

According to the charge sheet, he is accused of infringing the security measures of Ecletics International and gaining access without authority.

Kipkechem is said to have gained access on diverse dates between June 6 and 20, 2025, with the intention of committing further offences.

On another count, he has been charged with computer fraud contrary to Section 26(1)(b) as read with Section 2(a) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act No. 5 of 2018, causing a loss of Ksh 52,549,798.

“On diverse dates between June 6 and 20, 2025, at an unknown place within the Republic of Kenya, you fraudulently occasioned unlawful financial loss of Ksh52,549,798 to Ecletics International through unauthorised access to their computer system,” part of the charge sheet reads.

Appearing before Milimani Principal Magistrate Daisy Mutai on Thursday, March 5, 2026, Kipkechem denied all the charges, and a plea of not guilty was entered.

However, the state, through a sworn affidavit by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer Andrew Ngowa, opposed his release on bail and bond.

Officer Ngowa argues that although the accused is a Kenyan citizen, he is also a holder of a Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) passport, making him a significant flight risk.

Further, he states that the accused is implicated in a series of cyber attacks resulting in massive financial losses to several institutions, totalling approximately Ksh100 million.

The state also argues that investigations are currently ongoing into multiple other related incidents of computer fraud linked to the accused, and his release would significantly prejudice the enquiries.

Notably, the officer notes that the accused possesses the technical expertise to remotely access, encrypt, or delete digital footprints and evidence crucial to the prosecution’s case if allowed to access telecommunication devices outside custody.

“I believe that these are compelling reasons in the interest of justice that the accused person be denied bail and bond pending the hearing and determination of this case,” Officer Ngowa states in the affidavit.

Magistrate Mutai ordered the accused to be remanded at Capitol Hill Police Station until Thursday, March 12, 2026, when the matter will come up for mention.