FLAMBOYANT BUSINESSMAN JARED OTIENO DETAINED OVER 183M FRAUD CHARGES

A prominent businessman and politician Jared Otieno was yesterday detained for seven days by police over allegations of obtaining Sh187.3 million by false pretences.

Otieno became a household name among Kenyans when he formalised his union with his sweetheart Kendi Mwiti in October 2015 in a lavish wedding.

Ealier in May the same year, Otieno had spent Sh15 million in a pre-wedding party in his home town of Ndhiwa followed by a well choreographed dowry payment ceremony at the bride’s home in Meru in which the groom and his entourage arrived in choppers and expensive cars.

Yesterday, Nairobi senior principle magistrate Martha Mutuku allowed the police to detain him to complete investigations. Otieno was arrested on June 17 following complaints by several people of varying nationalities that he had been obtaining money by false pretences.

According to court records, the suspect conspired with others locally and internationally to obtain money from the unsuspecting complainants with promises he was in a position to export gold from Kenya to their home countries.

“He took the complainants at different times to his other office within Kileleshwa which also acted as gold smelting refinery,” DCI through investigating officer Moses Gituathi told the court.

Opiyo’s wedding was an invites only ceremony at Windsor hotel and a reception at Safari Park Hotel and was attended by the who-is-who in the society. Among the notable high-profile figures at the wedding included Senators James Orengo, Anyang Nyong’o, Kiraitu Murungi and Naisula Lesuuda.

Others were governors Amason Jeffa Kingi (Kilifi) and Jack Ranguma (Siaya), PS Mutea Iringo and then Ambassador to Tanzania Chirau Ali Mwakwere.

The fairy-tale kind of wedding saw the bride chauffeured to the venue of the ceremony on a horse chariot complete with flower petals. The motorcade of the groom on the other hand comprised top -of-the-range fuel guzzlers including two Porsche’s, a limousine and three vintage Rolls Royces.

He is detained at Kilimani Police Station.

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