For five years, the family of James Kariuki, a Kenyan detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has lived in despair, clinging to hope that he will one day return home. Kariuki, who maintains his innocence, remains incarcerated after being convicted in a complex fraud case that his family insists was orchestrated by imposters using his stolen identity.
Speaking from their Kangoya village, Kiambu home, during a church mass convened to give the family spiritual comfort and pray for devine intervention Kariuki’s father, John Thiong’o, expressed the anguish of watching his son suffer in a foreign land.
“How can I raise over Sh80 million to bail out my son? Even if I sold everything I own or held a harambee, it would still not be enough. I feel helpless as a parent,” Thiong’o said, adding that he has sought help from various government offices without success despite the case being raised in Parliament.
Kariuki’s mother, Esther Wambui, echoed the frustration, questioning why UAE authorities have failed to verify facts that, in her view, would prove her son’s innocence.
“If indeed he stole that money, let them investigate us as a family—our bank accounts, our property. Do we look like people who could hide such millions? How could he have stolen money while in detention?” she asked.
Kariuki travelled to the UAE in May 2020 after losing his job as a security guard in Kenya. While searching for work, he encountered a Nigerian national who promised employment but allegedly disappeared with his identification documents, which were later used in fraudulent activities.
On August 13, 2020, Kariuki was arrested alongside a Ugandan national and accused of electronic fraud involving AED1.18 million (Sh41.6 million). Despite denying involvement and insisting that his documents had been misused, he was convicted on September 15, 2020, and sentenced to one year in prison, followed by deportation.
While serving his sentence, another fraud incident involving AED2 million (Sh70 million) emerged in 2021, with prosecutors again linking Kariuki to the scheme—even though he was already behind bars. His lawyer, Jumaa Maleh of Maleih Advocates & Legal Consultants, argues that it was “physically impossible” for Kariuki to commit the crime while incarcerated.
Court documents show that the fraud involved the creation of a fake email resembling that of Arab Rock Engineering, which tricked Oceanic Wave International into transferring funds to fraudulent accounts. Transactions continued through the accounts even after Kariuki’s detention, raising doubts about his involvement.
Esther Wambui (L) Thiong’o (C) displaying a picture of their son Kariuk who is detained at UAE for the last 5 years without Justice
Despite this, Kariuki was convicted, fined AED2 million (Sh81 million), and ordered to pay nine percent annual interest. Unable to raise the amount, he remains in detention.
His lawyer maintains that Kariuki’s trial was marred by inconsistencies, poor legal representation, and disregard of evidence proving he was in prison when the second fraud occurred. The Ugandan national arrested alongside him was acquitted, despite allegedly receiving over AED755,000.
“This case highlights not only identity theft but also the shortcomings of navigating a foreign justice system,” Maleh said, adding that his client’s appeal is still pending.
Kariuki, who previously worked for Transguard Group LLC in Dubai for seven years without any criminal record, continues to fight to prove his innocence.
The case has caught the attention of Kenyan lawmakers, with Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris and Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba both demanding answers from the government regarding Kariuki’s prolonged detention.
Kiambu MP John Machua pressed Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to explain what steps the ministry was taking to intervene on behalf of Kariuki, calling the situation a grave injustice that should not be ignored.
“This is a Kenyan citizen languishing in a foreign jail under questionable circumstances. The government must act decisively to bring him home,” Machua said.
Responding on the floor of the House, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi confirmed that the matter had been raised with UAE authorities through diplomatic channels. He assured lawmakers that the government was pursuing the case at the highest level, while urging patience as discussions continued.
For Kariuki’s parents, every day that passes without resolution deepens their pain.
“All we want is justice for our son,” Wambui said. “We will not stop pleading until he is free.”
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