For months, Nairobi-based car dealer Khalif Kairo has found himself at the center of controversy, facing multiple arrests over allegations of fraudulent car sales.
Several clients have accused him of taking payments for luxury vehicles that were never delivered, with claims amounting to over Sh34 million.
Since December 2024, Kairo has been arrested at least four times, his legal troubles unfolding in a pattern that raises questions about his business dealings.
While he blames economic turbulence and business rivalry for his predicament, the increasing number of complaints suggests deeper issues within his operations.
Kairo, however, maintains that his business is legitimate, claiming he successfully sold over 300 cars worth Sh1 billion in 2024.
But with more aggrieved clients stepping forward, his frequent arrests have only fueled speculation.
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Here’s a look at some of the incidents that have landed Kairo in custody.
On December 3, 2024 at Ridgeways Kairo was taken into custody at a car yard and detained at Kasarani Police Station after a client accused him of failing to deliver a Sh26 million Range Rover despite full payment.
As word spread, more complainants emerged, further complicating his case. In his defenCe, Kairo claimed he had already paid his supplier but faced a KSh 6 million debt that delayed delivery.
His lawyer pushed for his release, but police resisted, citing a growing number of fraud reports.
In January 11, 2025, barely a month later, Kairo was arrested again, this time at Capitol Hill Police Station, over fresh allegations of fraudulently obtaining nearly Sh5.1 million for two imported cars, a Sh2,984,998 for a Subaru Outback and Sh2,145,150 for a Honda Vezel Hybrid.Neither vehicle was delivered.
Videos of a visibly shaken Kairo at the station went viral, showing him pleading with officers not to harass him. Prosecutors argued that he was a flight risk, presenting evidence of a flight ticket booked for New York on January 12.
He was taken to court on January 13, denied the charges, and claimed his business rivals were behind the accusations.
On January 14, the court granted him a Sh2 million cash bail, allowing him temporary freedom.
In yet another arrest, on January 28, 2025, the embattled car dealer was re-arrested at Milimani Law Courts
Just weeks later, Kairo’s legal troubles deepened when he was arrested again outside Milimani Law Courts, shortly after attending a fraud case mention.
DCI detectives whisked him away to Parklands Police Station, where he spent the night.
The next day, he was charged with obtaining Sh3,045,000 between October 5-7, 2024, allegedly promising to import a Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 from Japan but failing to deliver.
The timing of this arrest, barely two weeks after another fraud case mention, underscored mounting legal pressure. He pleaded not guilty and struggled to raise cash bail, eventually securing a Sh3 million personal bond on January 31.
The court also allowed him to travel to the USA for a fundraising trip.
In March 25, Kairo wa arrested, yet again at Milimani Law Courts, immediately after attending a mention for his three ongoing fraud cases.
This time, a fresh complaint surfaced: a client who had fully paid for a BMW but never received it.
Videos captured Kairo in handcuffs, walking out of court with a composed demeanor. Reports indicate that seven additional complaints had been filed in recent days, deepening his legal quagmire.
Kairo is set to be arraigned tomorrow, March 26, as his legal battles continue to mount.
