Kenya’s criminal underworld has been dealt another blow following the arrest of Tim Orao Shikalo, a suspected fraud mastermind linked to a brazen gold scam that swindled a foreign investor of USD 265,200—equivalent to Ksh 38 million.
Shikalo was cornered by elite detectives from the Operation Support Unit (OSU) after months of evading capture. He is accused of orchestrating a fake gold syndicate that peddled lies, forged contracts, and non-existent minerals to unsuspecting investors.
The scam, investigators say, involved over 1,080 kilograms of supposed gold. What the victim got instead was a worthless mix of copper, zinc, and tin—a classic bait-and-switch operation dressed up with fraudulent paperwork and promises of smooth customs clearance and legal facilitation.
This arrest follows the earlier capture of Steve Okoth Odek, alias David Bett, who was nabbed in December 2024 and charged in court for his involvement in the same scheme. Authorities believe both men are part of a well-organized criminal network that preys on wealthy foreigners using slick sales pitches and forged documents.
Shikalo is currently in police custody and will be arraigned soon.
But the net is still wide open.
Detectives have confirmed they are closing in on two more suspects who are believed to have played active roles in the scam. Their arrests are expected to unearth even more shocking details about Kenya’s growing fake gold industry—an international embarrassment that continues to damage the country’s image.
As the dragnet tightens, Kenyans are once again reminded of the country’s dark underbelly—where fraud, collusion, and impunity threaten to overshadow legitimate business.
The question now is: Who’s protecting these cartels, and how many more victims are out there?
