Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has arrested city lawyer Michael Otieno Owano, proprietor of Otieno M.O. Law Advocates, over his alleged involvement in a high-stakes gold scam that defrauded a Canadian investor of USD 618,000 (approximately KSh 81 million).
According to the DCI, the victim was enticed into a bogus gold export deal involving 250 kilograms of gold purportedly bound for Dubai aboard a private jet. On April 15, 2025, a proforma invoice worth USD 318,400 was issued by EAI Logistics, with the funds wired to Owano’s law firm account. The investor was later instructed to send an additional USDT 300,000 to a cryptocurrency wallet. Despite the payments, no gold was delivered.
Owano’s arrest is part of a wider crackdown targeting transnational gold fraud syndicates that have siphoned millions from foreign investors through elaborate schemes. The operation is being spearheaded by the DCI’s Operations Support Unit (OSU).
Earlier, detectives apprehended Francis Talla Ouafo, alias Allain, a Cameroonian national believed to be the syndicate’s mastermind. He was arraigned on July 31, 2025, at the Milimani Chief Magistrate’s Court.
In a separate but similar case, Lupemba Lorenzi Olivier, a Congolese national, appeared before the same court over an alleged gold scam targeting a Gabonese investor. Investigators secured a seven-day custodial order to complete inquiries, with the case set for mention on August 13, 2025.
Meanwhile, Kelvin Otieno Onyango, alias Kevo Sonko, identified as the director of SwiftTaxis Logistics Ltd, was also arrested in connection with the Canadian investor’s case. The complainant was reportedly taken to his office where the gold deal was negotiated and formalised before USD 140,000 was deposited into an escrow account.
The DCI has vowed to dismantle these networks, which often exploit Kenya’s strategic position in the region to lure unsuspecting foreign investors into non-existent gold deals. All suspects remain in custody awaiting arraignment, as detectives pursue additional leads to recover the stolen funds and bring other accomplices to justice.
Authorities have cautioned investors to exercise extreme diligence when engaging in gold transactions, especially those involving private arrangements and cryptocurrency payments.
