City car dealer Joseph Kairo Wambui, popularly known as Khalif Kairo , has been slapped with fresh fraud charges.
Mr Kairo, who was last week charged with fraudulently obtaining money for the importation of high-end vehicles, was arraigned on a new charge of fraudulently obtaining Sh3 million in another car deal.
The businessman asked Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina to release him on a personal bond of Sh3 million, saying he had spent two days in police custody.
Lawyer Danstan Omari tells court that business rivals want to tarnish Khalif Kairo's reputation
The court allowed his application and also released his passport to enable him to travel to the USA to raise funds for financing the business.
The court noted that Kairo has been travelling in and out of the country as evidenced by his passport.
Mr Onyina said the prosecution had not provided any compelling reason to restrict the suspect's freedom of movement.
On January 28, Mr Kairo pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud.
In the first charge, Mr Kairo allegedly used fraudulent tricks and induced Mr Jeff Kyule Munane to pay him Sh2.1 million for the purchase of a motor vehicle which he never delivered.
He allegedly committed the offence on various dates between July 10, 2024 and July 25, 2024 at Westlands, Nairobi.
On the second count, he allegedly received Sh2.98 million from Ms Dora Okoth for the purchase of a Subaru Outback but never delivered the vehicle.
Defence lawyers Cliff Ombeta, Danstan Omari and Martina Swiga submitted that he was being persecuted because of business rivalry and his commercial acumen.
Mr Omari said Mr Kairo could not defraud his clients, who had entered into contracts with him to purchase vehicles from overseas.
"This case is being sponsored by business rivals who feel they have been pushed out of business," Mr Omari said, claiming that Khalif sold over 300 vehicles worth over Sh1 billion last year.
The defence team also pleaded with Mr Onyina to release him on lenient bail conditions, saying he was an employer and a taxpayer.
The prosecution had opposed his release on bond, saying the businessman was a flight risk.
