By Robert Mutasi 
A 21-year-old Moi University student has been arraigned at the Eldoret Law Courts over allegations of unlawfully accessing a bank account and transferring nearly Sh500,000 into an account registered in her name.
The student, identified as Purity Moraa Mokaya, is accused of obtaining Sh499,800 from an account belonging to Mark Juma Odhiambo through alleged unauthorised access to a computer system.
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Mokaya, a final-year Education student, appeared before Eldoret Principal Magistrate Kimani Mukabi, where she denied three charges brought against her under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018.
According to the prosecution, the alleged incident occurred on July 30, 2026, when Mokaya, alongside other individuals who have not been presented before the court, allegedly accessed Odhiambo’s bank account without his permission.
The court heard that Sh499,800 was subsequently transferred from the complainant’s Absa Bank account to an I&M Bank account reportedly registered in the accused student’s name.
The prosecution further accused her of knowingly acquiring money allegedly obtained through criminal activities.
The charges against Mokaya include unauthorised access to a computer system contrary to Section 14(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
She also faces a charge of accessing a computer system with the intention of committing a further offence under Section 15(1), alongside an additional charge relating to the acquisition of proceeds of crime.
The student appeared in court without legal representation and denied all three accusations.
During the proceedings, the prosecution informed the court that Mokaya was also facing similar computer misuse charges in other courts.
However, those separate cases are yet to be heard and determined.
The prosecution indicated that it had lined up five witnesses to testify as the case progresses.
Among those expected to appear before the court are the complainant, Mark Juma Odhiambo, and Police Constable Edwin Mukholi, a Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer handling the investigations in Eldoret.
Their testimony is expected to help the court examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged access to the bank account and the subsequent transfer of the disputed funds.
During the bond hearing, Mokaya asked the court to grant her reasonable bond terms or cash bail, assuring the magistrate that she would attend all scheduled court proceedings.
However, Principal Magistrate Kimani Mukabi declined to release her on cash bail.
Instead, the court granted her a Sh500,000 bond with one surety, allowing her to remain out of custody as the case proceeds.
The matter is scheduled for mention on November 23, 2026, before Court 3 at the Eldoret Law Courts for further directions.
The allegations against Mokaya remain unproven, and she is presumed innocent unless convicted by a court of law.
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