Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested Tim Orao Shikalo, a man believed to be a central figure in a high-profile gold scam that defrauded a foreign investor of USD 265,200 (approximately KES 38 million).
Shikalo, who had been on the police radar for months, was apprehended Monday by the elite Operations Support Unit (OSU) in what officials described as a major breakthrough in the ongoing probe into fraudulent gold dealings in Kenya.
According to police reports, the suspect was involved in an elaborate scheme that promised over 1,080 kilograms of gold, using fake contracts, forged documentation, and assurances of secure delivery and legal clearance — all of which turned out to be fraudulent.
“The alleged gold was later found to be nothing more than a concoction of copper, zinc, and tin, with no trace of any precious metal,” a senior detective close to the investigation told Uzalendo News.
Shikalo’s arrest follows the earlier capture of Steve Okoth Odek, alias David Bett, who was arrested and arraigned in December 2024 in connection with the same scam.
Authorities say the syndicate used phony legal documentation, false collateral guarantees, and staged communications to gain the trust of unsuspecting foreign investors.
Shikalo is now in police custody and will be arraigned once processing is complete. Meanwhile, detectives are said to be closing in on two more suspects, believed to be part of the wider criminal network.
The DCI has urged the public and international investors to exercise due diligence when engaging in gold trade deals in Kenya, emphasizing the need to verify all transactions through legitimate government channels.
