Kenya Railways has confirmed the arrest of six suspects over a fake Madaraka Express ticket booking scheme, urging the public to book only through official channels as investigations continue.
Kenya Railways has announced the arrest of six suspects linked to an alleged fake Madaraka Express ticket booking scheme that has been defrauding unsuspecting passengers.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 14, the corporation said the arrests followed investigations into fraudulent online booking platforms and individuals impersonating the corporation to defraud members of the public.
"The arrests followed investigations into fraudulent online booking platforms and individuals impersonating the Corporation to defraud members of the public. Investigations are ongoing, and Kenya Railways will continue working with the relevant investigative agencies," the statement read.
The six suspects are alleged to have run fake Madaraka Express pages on TikTok and Facebook, posing as Kenya Railways agents. Investigators say the group advertised SGR ticket sales and offered to reallocate train seats to unsuspecting passengers who paid through the fake platforms but never received the promised tickets or services.
The suspects were arrested by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers based in Nakuru County before being transferred to Nairobi and booked at Muthaiga Police Station.
The suspects appeared before Kibera Law Court, where Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo ordered them held in custody until Thursday, July 16, after one of them told the court he is under 18 years old. The magistrate directed the investigating officer to facilitate an age assessment before the matter resumes, noting that if confirmed a minor, he would be entitled to legal representation at the State's expense and would be handled under the law governing children in conflict with the law.
Kenya Railways is listed as the complainant in the case, and investigators are reportedly seeking orders to detain the suspects for 21 days to complete investigations before formal charges are filed.
The corporation urged members of the public who have been defrauded, or who have information that could assist investigators, to report the matter directly to Kenya Railways.
It also renewed its call for vigilance, reminding passengers to purchase Madaraka Express tickets only through official channels: the online booking portal, the *639# USSD service, or Madaraka Express stations nationwide.
The arrests come just days after Kenya Railways issued a public notice on July 10 warning of fake websites and social media pages impersonating the corporation, after some passengers reported losing money through unofficial payment channels.