The trial of Oki General Trading (Kenya) has exploded into one of the most closely watched courtroom dramas of 2025 — and for good reason. What started as a straightforward case of alleged fraud has now spiraled into a high-stakes exposé of possible tax evasion, witness manipulation, and corporate deceit.
At the center of it all is Deepak Rajoriya, the prosecution’s star witness, whose testimony was meant to seal the fate of a former director accused of misappropriating KES 356 million. Instead, under cross-examination, Rajoriya’s credibility collapsed — exposing contradictions that point back to Oki General Trading itself.
A Suspicious Arrival in Kenya
Court filings show that Rajoriya entered Kenya on 25th December 2024, curiously on a tourist visa. Within just two weeks, on 16th January 2025, he had been elevated to the position of director at Oki General Trading.
Almost immediately, Rajoriya commissioned a “forensic audit,” which conveniently concluded that KES 356 million had been misappropriated by a former company director. That report — prepared under his watch — now forms the entire backbone of the prosecution’s case.
But under pressure from the defense, glaring holes emerged.
Clean Audits vs. Sudden Billions Missing
Oki General Trading has undergone annual independent audits for years. These reports were used for tax filings and never once flagged missing billions.
When challenged to explain how such a colossal sum could escape detection all this time, Rajoriya had no answer. Observers in the packed courtroom described him as “visibly shaken,” reduced to silence when confronted with the contradiction.
No Evidence, No Records
Even more troubling, Rajoriya admitted he conducted no internal investigation, produced no company records, and had no independent evidence beyond the contested audit he himself initiated.
Defense lawyers pounced on this, questioning not just his independence, but the motives behind parachuting him into Kenya, installing him as a director, and rushing an audit that conveniently supported Oki’s narrative.
The Smoking Gun: Tax Penalty Matches “Fraud”
The most explosive moment came when it was revealed in court that Oki General Trading is already facing a Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) penalty of KES 356 million — the exact same figure now being attributed to the alleged misappropriation.
The coincidence is too glaring to ignore. Is the company using the courts to offload its tax burden onto a former director — masking its liabilities under the guise of theft?
A Familiar Script in Corporate Kenya
The Oki case is not happening in isolation. Kenya has witnessed similar tactics in the past:
Gold scams where foreign nationals were duped and companies blamed rogue employees.
Banking scandals where missing billions were blamed on junior staff while executives walked free.
Tax evasion cases where corporations attempted to disguise unpaid dues as “fraud losses.”
Experts warn that if companies like Oki General Trading can manipulate the system this way, Kenya risks becoming a haven for corporate scapegoating.
Public Doubt, Public Outrage
For many Kenyans, the optics are damning:
A man arrives as a tourist.
Is made a director in two weeks.
Commissions a questionable audit.
Cannot explain why years of clean audits found nothing.
Instead of clarifying the alleged fraud, Rajoriya’s testimony has left the public asking a bigger, darker question: Is Oki General Trading attempting to dodge its Sh356M tax bill by manufacturing a fraud case?
What Lies Ahead
As the trial continues, the credibility of the prosecution and the reputation of Oki General Trading hang in the balance. If the defense can prove that the case is nothing more than a smokescreen for tax evasion, this could become one of the most brazen examples of corporate manipulation Kenya has ever seen.
For now, the public waits — and watches closely. Because this case is no longer just about one company. It is a test of whether Kenya’s justice system can pierce through corporate deceit, defend truth, and hold powerful firms accountable.
