DCI Arrest MP Aspirant At JKIA Over Ksh13M Fake Gold Scam

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested Nyakach constituency Member of Parliament (MP) candidate on an independent ticket Jonathan Okoth Opande at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.

In a statement, DCI revealed that Opande, who unsuccessfully contested the Nyakach Constituency Parliamentary seat in the 2022 General Election, was forced out of a Kenya Airways flight on Friday afternoon, October 6 by the detectives as he was on his way to Kisumu.

The Nyanza politician was sought after in connection with the defrauding of two Thai nationals of over Ksh13 million in a fake gold scam.

"Opande also known as Chairman/Kiongozi was ejected from a Kisumu-bound KQ flight yesterday afternoon, by hawk-eyed detectives who had gotten wind of his last-minute travel itinerary.

Jonathan Okoth Opande during a past court session. /X.CYPRIAN NYAKUNDI

"The suspect who unsuccessfully contested the Nyakach Parliamentary seat in the last General Elections has been engaging detectives in cat and mouse games and is wanted in connection to a case where he defrauded two Thai nationals over Ksh13 million, in a fake gold deal," stated the DCI in part.

A complaint was lodged at the Royal Thai Embassy in April 2023 by Messrs Kitvisit Songsri and Nutsaphol Songsri.

DCI revealed that the suspect posing as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Blu Afrique LTD obtained the money from them under the pretext that he would supply them with gold whose quantity was not immediately established. 

The two foreigners had travelled to the country on April 17 to seal the deal when they realized days later that they were the latest victims of Nairobi’s notorious fake gold dealers. 

"The duo had been introduced to Kiongozi by his accomplice Fred Obach Oliech, who was arrested on August 23, and has already had his day in court," added the DCI.

Consequently, detectives staged a raid at Opande's office in Lavington’s Gatina area which led to the recovery of Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) export seals.

Also recovered were a dust coat branded Ministry of Mining and digital weighing scales among other crucial exhibits. 

The suspect is currently being held at Buruburu police station pending arraignment on Monday, October 9, even though he denied the links to the gold scam by claiming his company is legit.

“I’m duly registered to trade in gold since 2021...even to this day, I have a license...I’m a buyer and exporter...I check and authenticate, if it is good I sell,” he said.

Opande blamed his woes on a political witchhunt, claiming “I’m being persecuted because of the stand I have taken on the Sondu clashes, nothing more than that."

The 32-year-old controversial politician-cum businessman is not new to the dubious gold cartel cases. He is also facing a court case for obtaining Ksh25.7 million by falsely pretending he was in a position to sell 250 kilograms of gold.

On April 6, 2022, Okoth and Steve Ochieng Odhiambo, who is currently at large with an arrest warrant issued against him, appeared before Magistrate Susan Shitubi of Milimani Law Courts to answer to the charges.

According to the prosecution’s report, the accused persons organized an informal business meeting with Samuel Olaleye Adeyeni who is the complainant in the matter.

This is said to have happened at Lagos Hotel in Nairobi between January 19 and February 18, 2019, where he presented a gold trading company to the complainant claiming to be one of the directors.

However, they both denied the charges and were released on a cash bail of Ksh300,000 and were directed to surrender their passport to the court.