City car dealer Joseph Kairo Wambui, alias Khalif Kairo, has been arrested again shortly after a court mention over fraud allegations.
Kairo was arrested shortly after leaving the Milimani Law Courts on Tuesday, January 28, morning.
The car dealer had appeared for the court mention after he was arraigned on Monday, January 13, on charges of defrauding his clients of Ksh2.1 million and Ksh2.9 million, respectively.
In a video seen by The Kenya Times, three officers believed to be from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters were seen escorting Kairo to a waiting SUV inside the precincts of the Court.
The businessman was accompanied by his relatives including his mother who was seen trying to negotiate with one of the officers.
However, the officer can be heard informing Kairo’s mother that the arrest was related to a separate case before driving away with her son for further questioning.
Preliminary reports suggest that the detectives intervened due to new allegations involving a high-end vehicle, in which Khalif is accused of taking payment from a client but failed to deliver the car.
This even as detectives continue to investigate his business dealings.
Kairo appears before court
During the Tuesday morning court mention, Kairo’s lawyers requested the release of his passport, stating that he intends to travel to the USA for seven days, starting February 20, 2025.
The lawyers informed Chief Magistrate Luca Onyina that the purpose of the trip is to raise funds, part of which would be used to settle the matter before the court.
Further, Kairo’s lawyer Davidson Makau assured the court that the businessman is not a flight risk and would return after the seven days.
Also Read: Maria Wavinya Responds to Joining Dating Site After Alleged Break-up with Khalif Kairo
The prosecution, on its part, did not object to the application but requested that Kairo submit his travel itinerary, including his travel and return dates before the court could consider his application.
Onyina directed the matter to be mentioned on January 31 to allow the defense to submit supporting documents.
Arrest and arraignment
Khalif first appeared before court earlier this month after he was apprehended on January 11, when he was put into custody at the Capitol Hill Police Station.
In the ongoing case, the car dealer is accused of obtaining Ksh2.9 million from Dona Ayalo Okoth in what the prosecution termed a “fraudulent trick, claiming to be in a position to import a Subaru Outback vehicle”.
The incident occurred in July of last year, and detectives said the car has yet to be delivered despite being paid in full.
In another incident, the businessman is accused of deceiving Jeff Kyule Munane between July 10 and July 29, 2024, in Westlands, Nairobi.
Also Read: Khalif Kairo Launches Plan to Raise Ksh258 Million After Business Hitch
The alleged scheme involved his company, Kai & Karo Limited, collecting Ksh2,145,150 under the pretense of facilitating the importation of a Honda Vezel Hybrid vehicle from Japan, which was never delivered.
Having heard applications from both the prosecution and Kairo’s lawyers, Chief Magistrate Onyina released Khalif on a Ksh2 million cash bail.
Kairo’s arrest comes hours after he launched a plan to raise at least $2 million (approximately Ksh258 million) in funding.
$2 Million target
The car dealer on Monday announced that his company, Kaiandkaro Limited, through its newly launched parent company based in the U.S., aims to raise the $2 million in seed funding.
Seed funding refers to the initial capital that early-stage startups raise to help them launch and develop their businesses.
It is typically the first round of investment funding a company seeks, often before fully developing its product or establishing a strong revenue stream.
According to Kairo, the decision to raise the funds followed “teething cash flow issues that have affected delivery timelines for imported used vehicles, threatened our public goodwill, and limited our growth.”
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