Mukiri: The man who impersonated CS Matiang’i in fake gold deal

Revealed: The man who impersonated Matiang’i in fake gold deal

Tony Mukere

May 20, 2019 11:01 AM

The conman even inspected a guard of honor to convince Dubai businessman

Mukiri: The man who impersonated CS Matiang’i in fake gold deal

Details have emerged on the daring confidence tricks played by the perpetrators of the fake gold scam that saw members of the Dubai royal family lose at least Sh400 million to suspected Kenyan criminals.

Detectives are said to be in the hunt for one specific individual, only identified as Mukiri, who daringly impersonated Interior CS Fred Matiang’i.

The scammers had come up with a false narrative that their gold had been seized by security officials working for the Ministry of Interior.

They then convinced Dubai businessman Ali Zhandi that he needed to pay off the Interior CS to have the goods released from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

The People Daily reported that at one point, Mukiri, whom detectives believe closely resembles the real Matiang'i, inspected a guard of honor while meeting with Zhandi.

The incident is said to have taken place in Karen after Zandi complained over the delays in having his gold released – several weeks after he had hired allegedly hired Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula to help negotiate with the security bosses.

The Dubai businessman was taken to a house in Karen and noticed that the gate was manned by heavily armed police officers.

The so-called Matiang’i impersonator, Mukiri, arrived shortly after in a convoy, complete with a chase car and outriders. He is reported to have gone ahead to inspect a “guard of honour” mounted by several officers who were in the compound.

Businessman Zaheer Jhanda is also said to have posed as the personal assistant to the “fake” Interior CS.

The report came on the same day, Monday, that the Standard reported its sources claiming President Uhuru Kenyatta met the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in the company of ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Maktoum is said to have played a recording between his nephew and Senator Wetangula, after which [president Kenyatta summoned his security officials and ordered them to crack down on the gold scammers.

Tony Mukere