In a significant breakthrough, detectives from the Operations Support Unit apprehended Michael Otieno Owano, a prominent advocate and alleged mastermind behind a fraudulent tender scheme, within the Milimani Law Courts precincts.
The arrest follows a complaint from an American businessman who reportedly lost Ksh 182 million to a scam ring operating in Nairobi.
Owano, the principal of Owano Michael & Co. Advocates, was apprehended yesterday while attending a court session for a separate case.
His involvement in this elaborate fraud dates back to 2022, when he allegedly conspired with an individual identified as Alvin Alexander, who posed as the CEO of Orion AST Company.
The duo lured the American investor to Kenya under the pretext of meeting government officials to discuss lucrative tender opportunities.
During the visit, the investor was presented with three fake tenders and instructed to make substantial payments for legal fees and work permits.
The total amount disbursed was USD 1,617,200, funneled through various law firms linked to the scam.
Following the disappearance of the scammers and months of evasion, the victim reported the matter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), prompting an extensive investigation.
Although Owano was processed for court and later granted bail, the search for his accomplices continues as detectives work to unravel the full scope of the fraud. The case has raised questions on the vulnerability of foreign investors and the integrity of legal professionals in Kenya.
