A Kenyan man has appeared in court after allegedly defrauding an American national of $217,900 (approx Sh28 million) in a failed 495kg gold deal.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Willis Onyango Wasonga was arrested after a report was filed at Capitol Hill Police Station by Gershonov Oleg on behalf of his American business partner, John Sodipo, over what detectives described as a money-laundering gold scam.
Investigations show that Oleg first visited Kenya in September 2025 to pursue a gold transaction that did not materialise. During the trip, he established contacts with alleged gold dealers, including Wasonga, also known as “Marcus,” who is the main suspect.
Negotiations later began between Sodipo and Wasonga for the purchase and chartering of 495kg of gold to Dubai.
After reaching an agreement, Sodipo deposited the chartering fees into a purported escrow account under advocate Michael Otieno Owano of MOAC Advocates, with Oleg travelling to Kenya to oversee the shipment.
However, the consignment was delayed beyond the agreed timelines, and the deal failed to materialise.
“It dawned on the American businessmen that they were dealing with seasoned Machiavellian scammers with dark triad characteristics,” the DCI said on Tuesday.
Detectives said the suspects’ modus operandi involved SRK Logistics Limited, a company that allegedly misrepresents its capacity to supply gold.
Investigators also found that fictitious legal representation agreements were created to portray MOAC Advocate LLP as handling legitimate commercial transactions.
Further investigations revealed that the funds were moved between company accounts and later transferred overseas, in what investigators say bears the hallmarks of money laundering.
The main suspect later secured anticipatory bail at the High Court before presenting himself at DCI headquarters on February 13, 2026, to record a statement.
He was arraigned at Milimani Law Courts, pleaded not guilty, and was granted a bond of Sh1 million with two contact persons or an alternative cash bail of Sh350,000.
Investigations are ongoing, with more suspects being pursued.
The case will be mentioned on March 3, 2026.
