A Kenyan man has been arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts over a suspected fake gold scam involving USD 600,000 (approximately Ksh77 million) in a case that highlights growing concern over international fraud syndicates.
The suspect, Duncan Okaka Okonji, was arrested on March 24, 2026, and presented in court the following day, where he was charged with conspiracy to defraud contrary to Section 317 of the Penal Code.
Okonji denied the charges and was released on a bond of Ksh5 million or an alternative cash bail of Ksh1 million. The court also required him to provide two contact persons as part of the bail conditions. The case will be mentioned on April 7, 2026.
According to investigators, the alleged fraud dates back to October 2025, when an Australian national was reportedly lured into the scheme while in Dubai. The victim is said to have been introduced to an individual identified as Marshall Morrison, who allegedly posed as an American investor.
Morrison is believed to have linked the complainant to Okonji, who presented himself as a facilitator of a gold transaction involving a consignment weighing 590 kilogrammes.
Detectives say the victim was later taken to Tanzania, where he was shown what were described as mining sites, before being brought to Kenya for further engagements. It is alleged that the suspects staged multiple meetings and produced documents to create the impression that the gold consignment was ready for export to Dubai.
Convinced that the deal was genuine, the complainant reportedly transferred USD 600,000 through a law firm to facilitate the transaction. However, suspicions later emerged, prompting the victim to report the matter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The case is now being treated as part of a broader crackdown on organised fraud networks targeting both local and international investors through fake gold deals.
Authorities say such schemes often involve elaborate setups designed to appear legitimate, including forged documents, staged site visits and impersonation of investors or facilitators.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has reiterated its commitment to pursuing suspects involved in transnational fraud and recovering proceeds of crime.
Officials warn that investors should exercise due diligence before engaging in high-value transactions, especially those involving cross-border dealings, as cases of gold scams continue to rise.
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