Nairobi businessman David Ochanda face Sh25million gold fraud charges targeting an American national
A controversial Nairobi based businessman will today morning be arraigned in connection to a Sh25million gold scam targeting an American investor.
David Onyango Ochanda, the profiled key mastermind behind the clandestine gold scamming syndicate in the Nairobi’s Lavington posh suburbs spent the weekend in police custody in Nairobi after he was arrested by detectives from the Operations Support Unit (OSU) attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations on Friday, August 15, 2025.
He is accused of defrauding an American investor Sh25million (USD 225,968.64)
According to preliminary findings by DCI sleuths, 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.
The investor even witnessed a smelting process at the seller’s agent’s office, an act meant to reinforce the illusion of legitimacy.
According to police findings, 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 Ochanda.
An addendum to the original agreement was signed to include insurance charges, and an invoice was issued for USD 226,012.76.
Four days later, the investor wired USD 225,968.64 to the company’s bank account.
The gold, however, never arrived.
On Friday last week, detectives executed a coordinated operation that led to the arrest of Ochanda, director of Toureg Insurance Brokers Limited and signatory to the account that received the funds.
He was Ochanda is currently in custody and undergoing processing, with arraignment scheduled for Monday, August 18, 2025.
