Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have uncovered a shocking conspiracy involving Cooperative Bank employees in the murder of a female teacher who was robbed and killed after withdrawing money in Mumias town.
Roselyda Akinyi, a teacher from Budonga village in Navakholo, was stabbed to death on April 17, 2025, moments after withdrawing Sh285,000 from Cooperative Bank’s Mumias branch. According to Western Regional Criminal Investigations Officer (RCIO) Njeru Nthiga, the investigation has narrowed down to four primary suspects, including two bank tellers and a security guard from the institution.
“We are not relenting in our pursuit of the people who robbed and killed the teacher. We have crucial leads from the CCTV clips from the bank which are helping us to identify additional suspects,” said Nthiga.
The CCTV footage revealed an elaborate scheme where two men entered the bank and engaged in diversionary tactics while monitoring Akinyi’s transaction. One suspect pretended to inquire about a loan while another sought assistance from the security guard claiming he had sent money to a wrong number.
“This was just a time-wasting tactic. They were just buying time as they waited for their target, the lady, to complete her withdrawals,” Nthiga explained. The footage shows the suspects pacing the banking hall while maintaining surveillance on the teacher.
Investigators are also questioning a boda boda rider who transported Akinyi after her withdrawal. A post-mortem report indicated that the teacher died from excessive bleeding after being stabbed with a knife that ruptured her lungs.
The murder has exposed what appears to be an organized criminal syndicate targeting customers who withdraw amounts exceeding Sh100,000 from banks in Mumias. Teacher unions, including the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), have staged protests accusing staff at local banks of colluding with criminals.
“As a union, we are concerned about what is eating our teachers and members of the public who move out of the banks after withdrawing money for their own activities,” said Fredrick Okang’a, Knut chairman in Mumias.
The unions have threatened to call for a boycott of banking services if security measures aren’t improved. They met with both police and bank management, demanding that CCTV coverage be extended beyond banking halls to monitor external activities.
“We visited the police station in Mumias and had a fruitful meeting with the police sub-county commander. We also went to the two banks and the report from the managers is promising. But we asked the banks to extend their CCTV cameras beyond the banking halls,” said Harrison Otota, Kuppet Kakamega branch Executive Secretary.
Union officials have also criticized the apparent security lapse in Mumias town, questioning why a white Probox vehicle frequently mentioned in connection with financial crimes has never been apprehended by authorities.
The DCI has vowed to leave “no stone unturned” in their investigation as they work to dismantle what appears to be an extensive criminal network operating with inside information from bank employees.
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