Flora Nekesa, an employee of Select Credit Ltd, has detailed how the company’s loan application process which relied heavily on WhatsApp became the focal point of a multimillion-shilling fraud scheme.
Testifying in court, Nekesa explained that whenever clients expressed interest in securing loans, their requests and supporting documents were submitted through a designated WhatsApp line. The information would then be shared among staff, after which she would initiate the application process.
She recalled that during the period under investigation, she personally received inquiries through the platform. “I received the query and even called the client to confirm details,” Nekesa told the court.
According to her testimony, the WhatsApp group was managed by the accused, Bravin Ndeta Karani, who had been authorized by the company to coordinate client requests and distribute them to staff. Nekesa further claimed that Bravin was also responsible for overseeing the release of loan funds a responsibility that prosecutors argue enabled him to exploit the system.
The prosecution alleges that between January and June 2022, Bravin, together with others not before the court, orchestrated a scheme to defraud Select Credit Ltd of more than KSh 4.6 million. The funds were allegedly siphoned through fraudulent loan applications processed via the WhatsApp system.
The court heard that the fraud only came to light after the company detected irregularities in several loan approvals and disbursements. Prosecutors maintain that the testimony underscores how Bravin and his accomplices manipulated the approval process, causing the company to incur significant financial losses.
The hearing is ongoing.
