By Dorothy Musyoka
Detectives from the Operations Support Unit (OSU) have arrested David Onyango Ochanda, a key suspect in a high-profile gold scam that defrauded an American investor of USD 225,968.64 (approximately KSh 29.4 million).
According to the detectives, the elaborate scheme began on April 3, 2024, when the investor flew into the country to finalise the purchase of 3,370 kilograms of gold.
Upon arrival, he was escorted to an office at Gate 53, Chalbi Drive, Lavington, Nairobi, where a Sales and Purchase Agreement was signed.
“The elaborate scheme dates back to April 3, 2024, when the unsuspecting investor jetted into the country to finalise a deal involving the purchase of 3,370 kilograms of gold. Upon arrival, he was ushered into an office at Gate 53, Chalbi Drive in Lavington, Nairobi, where he signed a Sales and Purchase Agreement,” stated the DCI.
In a bid to reinforce the illusion of legitimacy, the investor was shown a smelting process at the seller’s agent’s office.
On April 25, 2024, he was introduced to Toureg Insurance Brokers Limited, purportedly responsible for insuring the gold during transit. The contact person at the company was identified as Ochanda.
An addendum to the original agreement was signed to include insurance charges, with an invoice issued for USD 226,012.76.
“On April 25, 2024, the agent introduced the investor to Toureg Insurance Brokers Limited, allegedly tasked with insuring the gold during transit, whose contact person was David Onyango Ochanda. An addendum to the original agreement was signed to include insurance charges, and an invoice was issued for USD 226,012.76,” explained the detectives.
Four days later, the investor disbursed USD 225,968.64 to the company’s bank account, however the gold was never delivered.
Following a coordinated operation detectives arrested Ochanda the director of Toureg Insurance Brokers Limited and the signatory to the account that received the funds.
He is currently in custody and undergoing processing.
Ochanda is expected to be arraigned on Monday, August 18, 2025, to face charges related to the fraudulent scheme.