Popular City businessman Kelvin “Sonko” Otieno was on Monday, February 26 charged with forging documents contrary to Section 357 (a) of the Kenya Penal Code.
According to court documents seen by The Kenya Times, Kelvin is accused of fabricating a document and presenting it as genuine, despite knowledge of its falsity.
He was charged with 10 counts of making a document without authority and Forgery.
The said document named Mineral dealers bearing license registration No. MDL/T DTL/2024/044 for Cargocare freight forwarders was found to be forged despite claims by Kelvin that it was duly issued by the Ministry of Mining.
Kelvin “Sonko” Otieno Charges
Kelvin Otieno Onyango is also charged with an alternative offense of forgery under Section 345, as read with Section 349 of the Penal Code.
This relates to the creation of a counterfeit Mineral Dealer’s Trading License (MDL/T DTL/2024/0324) for Twinstar Freight Forwarders, falsely attributed to The Ministry of Mining.
“Kelvin Otieno Onyango at unknown place and time, within the Republic of Kenya, with intent to defraud, without lawful authority made a certam document namely Mineral desler’s (trading licence registration No. MDL/T TITL/2024/0324 for twinstar freight forwarders purporting it to be a genuine Document duly issued by The Ministry of Mining a fact you knew to be false,” reads the court papers in part.
The second count outlines how the accused, again with intent to defraud, produced another fraudulent Mineral Dealer’s Trading License (MDL/T DTL/2024/0278) for Pivot Point Freighters Limited. This document was also purported to be genuinely issued by The Ministry of Mining.
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In addition to the above, Kelvin Otieno Onyango faces an alternative charge of forgery, as per Section 345, read with Section 549 of the Penal Code.
The accused was arrested on February 22, 2024, in his Kilimani office by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Operations Support Unit (OSU) following intelligence reports.
In the raid, detectives recovered assorted company documents, stamps, seals and forged mining licenses purported to have been issued by the Ministry of Mining.
However, Sonko denied several counts including forging mineral export documents and was released on a Ksh 200,000 cash bail.
“He pleaded not guilty to all counts and was granted Sh300,000 bond or a cash bail of Sh200,000,” reads part of a statement by DCI.
Widespread Cases of Fraud and Conspiracy
Sonko’s apprehension is part of a more extensive inquiry into allegations of fraud and conspiracy.
The investigation encompasses his suspected ties to key individuals involved in a case where a Chinese national allegedly lost Sh151 million.
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The Chinese investor had paid for containers supposedly containing Tantalum minerals from Congo, but upon interception in Mombasa, they were found to contain soil instead.
The ongoing probe indicates potential links to fraudulent gold schemes operating in Nairobi’s Kilimani area, utilizing Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as their transit point.
