By The Weekly Vision Team
The mastermind behind the multi-billion-shilling Spring Mark Investment scam based in Eldoret has reportedly fled the country, according to a high-ranking security source who spoke to The Weekly Vision. It is believed that Mr Ambrose Makech Abuti secretly departed for Southern Sudan via Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) last month, leaving his victims in anguish after being defrauded of over Ksh 2.4 billion through a fraudulent investment scheme.
Among the 600 duped investors are judiciary officers, university lecturers, prominent business figures, lawyers, politicians, medical doctors, and police officers. Additionally, bishops and their congregations, as well as primary and high school teachers from Rift Valley and Western regions, were also deceived.
Abuti, a father of two, has been evading capture for the past year by frequently changing locations and using different mobile phone numbers borrowed from friends to communicate with his victims. His phones were tracked to various towns, including Kabarnet, Iten, Eldoret, Kitale, Nairobi, and Murang’a, two months ago before he switched them off.
Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi confirmed that local police, along with detectives from the DCI headquarters in Nairobi, are actively pursuing Abuti. “We have information that he was spotted at JKIA last month by one of his victims as he was attempting to escape to Southern Sudan,” Mwanthi stated.
He urged the affected victims not to lose hope, assuring them that efforts to apprehend Abuti are ongoing. Over 500 victims have filed complaints with the DCI in Nairobi. Victims have come from as far as Lodwar in Turkana County, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Kakamega, Bungoma, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Nakuru, Naivasha, and Kericho. They are advised to provide deposit statements, slips, and other relevant documents related to the fraudulent online forex dealings as investigations continue.
William Getumbe, an evangelist and gospel singer who lost Ksh 1.2 million in the scheme, recounted how he, along with clerics and their congregations, borrowed money from banks to invest. “The mastermind behind the Spring Mark investment vanished after promising substantial returns,” said Getumbe, who has led street protests demanding Abuti’s arrest and the return of their money. “Here are my documents showing my Ksh 1.2 million investment. We were promised an 18 percent monthly interest with the option to withdraw after six months,” Getumbe added.
Another victim revealed that she took out loans totalling Ksh 3 million from Cooperative Bank and Equity Bank to invest in Abuti’s forex company. “I’m now in serious trouble. I owe substantial amounts to both banks, and auctioneers are set to seize my property, including my car, to recover the loans,” said the victim, who chose to remain anonymous.
