DCI detectives have arrested a money launderer and fake gold suspect after defrauding a foreigner USD 217,900 back in September 2025.
Willis Onyango is reported to have received the said money through a law firm and was supposed to purchase and subsequent charter 495kgs of gold to Dubai, a business that ner materialized.
“A Kenyan man has been arraigned in court after defrauding an American national of USD 217,900 in a botched 495kgs gold deal. Willis Onyango Wasonga was arrested after a report was made at Capitol Hill police station by Gershonov Oleg on behalf of his American business partner, John Sodipo, following what detectives now describe as a calculated money laundering and sophisticated gold scam.
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Investigations have revealed that Oleg first visited Kenya in September 2025 to pursue a gold transaction that never materialized. However, during that trip, he established contacts with alleged gold dealers, one of them identified as Willis Onyango Wasonga alias ‘Marcus’ who is the main suspect.
Later, negotiations between Sodipo and Willis Onyango for the purchase and subsequent chartering of 495kgs of gold to Dubai commenced. After reaching an agreement, Sodipo deposited the agreed chartering fees into a purported Escrow account under advocate Michael Otieno Owano of MOAC Advocates, with Oleg flying to Kenya to oversee the shipment process,” said DCI
During their investigation, the detectives found out that the said amount had been transferred to an offshore account, making it a classic example of money laundering.
Willis pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on a Ksh 1 million bond or an alternative Ksh 350,000 cash bail.
“Further, Investigations revealed that funds were swiftly moved between company accounts and later transferred overseas, a pattern investigators say bears classic hallmarks of money laundering, including layering and concealment of proceeds of crime.
With investigations tightening, the main suspect secured anticipatory bail at the High Court before presenting himself at DCI Headquarters on 13th February 2026 for statement recording.
He was later arraigned at Milimani Law Courts where he pleaded not guilty and was granted a bond of Ksh. 1 Million with two contact persons or an alternative cash bail of Ksh. 350,000.
Investigations remain ongoing even as more suspects are being pursued while the case awaits mention on March 03, 2026,” said DCI
