David Onyango Ochanda was arrested by the Operations Support Unit (OSU)
According to investigators, the scam began on April 3, 2024, when an American investor flew into Nairobi for what he believed was a genuine deal to purchase 3,370 kilograms of gold.
He was escorted to an office along Chalbi Drive, Lavington, where he signed a Sales and Purchase Agreement. To reinforce the illusion, the suspect’s associates staged a gold smelting demonstration, convincing the victim that the deal was real.
Weeks later, on April 25, 2024, the investor was introduced to Toureg Insurance Brokers Limited, a company allegedly tasked with insuring the gold shipment. The supposed contact person at the firm was David Onyango Ochanda.
An addendum contract was quickly drawn up to include insurance charges, and the victim was issued with an invoice of USD 226,012.76. It was later discovered that both the insurance and the gold were fake.
The DCI has raised an alarm over the rising wave of gold-related fraud targeting both local and international investors.
“We strongly caution investors against dealing with unverified gold dealers. All transactions should be validated through the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs,” a senior DCI officer warned.
Kenya has seen a spike in such cases, with fraudsters using luxury offices, forged documents, and elaborate setups to dupe unsuspecting investors into paying millions for non-existent consignments.
