In a dramatic turn of events, Michael Otieno Owano, a Nairobi-based advocate with a history of legal battles, was arrested yesterday in connection with a high-stakes Ksh 182 million fake tender scheme that reportedly defrauded a U.S.-based businessman. Owano, the prominent figure behind Owano Michael & Co. Advocates, was apprehended by the Operations Support Unit detectives within the premises of Milimani Law Courts after attending a hearing in another criminal case, where he also faces charges.
This case, which has rattled both local and international business circles, began in 2022 when the American victim, the proprietor of Underground Pipeline Rehabilitation Company, was allegedly persuaded by an individual named Alvin Alexander, claiming to be CEO of Orion AST Company, to come to Kenya for lucrative government tender opportunities. According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Alexander’s role was to lure the businessman with promises of meeting high-ranking officials and securing valuable government contracts.
The victim reportedly held multiple meetings at various locations and was presented with fake tender documents for three significant projects:
Supply, Installation, and Commissioning of an Area Control Centre and Disaster Recovery System (Tender No KCAA/032/2021-2022).
Provision of Consultancy Services for an Information Security Management System (Tender No ICTA/RFP/03/2022-2022).
Supply, Delivery, Installation, and Commissioning of Automatic Weather Stations (Tender No MEWNR/T/18/2021-2022).
In line with the conditions of these fabricated tenders, the victim was instructed to pay substantial amounts, ostensibly to facilitate work permits and secure bid bonds. Unbeknownst to him, the funds were channeled into accounts managed by four law firms allegedly involved in the elaborate con:
Owano Michael & Company Advocates received $90,000 as legal fees for contracts 1 and 2.
Ollando Misare & Associates, LLP received $577,000, covering legal fees and bid bond requirements for contract 3.
Dennis Onyango & Company Associates obtained $200,200, supposedly for Orion employees’ work permits.
Ouko Angado Co. Advocates was paid a whopping $750,000, also for work permits.
After transferring a total of USD 1,617,200 (equivalent to Ksh 182,743,600), the businessman’s interactions with the syndicate members soured. Calls went unanswered, scheduled meetings were canceled, and contact was soon severed. Left in financial and emotional turmoil, the American investor filed a complaint with the DCI, sparking a comprehensive investigation into the fraudulent network.
Owano, who has frequented the courts on similar charges, was taken into custody and processed for arraignment but was later released on cash bail. His accomplices remain at large, with detectives working to bring the remaining suspects to justice.
As authorities intensify their crackdown on high-profile scams that tarnish Kenya’s investment landscape, this case serves as a cautionary tale for international investors and highlights the importance of verifying business partnerships in foreign territories.
