Nairobi car dealer Khalif Kairo revealed that his account with millions of shillings was closed as his troubles mount.
Kairo said that his WeFunder campaign account, which held over Sh12.9 million (USD100,000), was closed the Tuesday night.
Kairo attributed the closure to a series of ongoing legal challenges he is currently facing, with the most recent being a case at the High Court of Kenya, Milimani Division, in Nairobi.
”I am currently in Milimani Law Courts and will be presented for plea-taking shortly. Due to these legal issues, our WeFunder campaign account was shut down last night after crossing the USD 100,000 (Ksh12.9 million) mark,” Kairo said.
He said the WeFunder campaign account was opened on Monday this week and was approximately 24 hours old at the time of closure.
Kairo, who has faced numerous court battles over failed business deals related to car sales, spent much of the final days of last year and the early part of this year defending himself in court.
According to the car dealer, the ongoing cases which have negatively impacted his brand, have also led to the closure of his offices.
”We have tried everything in our ability to try to resolve these issues amicably and ensure we do deliveries but the negative media publicity and constant police involvement are putting us in deeper waters and severely affecting our ability to operate. All our offices are currently closed,” Kairo shared
”I have had an impressive ten-year run in business with zero criminal cases pertaining to cars and thousands of people have successfully bought cars from me,” he added.
Kairo was expected in court for yet another case after his arrest Tuesday by plain-clothed police officers shortly after attending another court case at Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi.
He appealed for help to raise money for his legal challenges.
“All is not lost however , i am directly appealing to my supporters, friends , old clients and associates to chip in whatever amount they can and give us a fighting chance against the unknown forces that are sabotaging my company.”
“Proceeds can be sent to the @kai_and_karo account below.
This is not an investment but a donation. Once the dust settles, we will issue a statement and audit trail of how we will utilize the funds raised in rescuing our company,” he said.
Before his new arrest, Kairo had on Tuesday pleaded with a Magistrate’s court to release his passport to enable him travel to the USA for a period of seven days.
Through his advocate Davidson Makau, Kairo told Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina that he requires his travel documents so as to attend a fundraiser in the United States.
It was after he stepped out that police who were waiting struck.
He told the court that he is not a flight risk and will be back once done with his business at the states.
The Prosecution said Kairo must serve the court with all details of his visit including when he intends to leave the country before any consideration is made.
Onyina subsequently directed that the matter be mentioned on January 31 to confirm filing of documents that will lay the basis for the release of the passport.
Kairo was this month charged with failing to honor car sale agreements.
He faces two separate charges of cheating contrary to section 315 of the penal code. For each of the charges the court granted him a cash bail of Sh1 million with an alternative of a bond.
According to one of the charges, Kairo on diverse dates between 10 July 2024 and 25 July 2024 at Westlands by means of fraudulent tricks induced one Jeff Munane to pay him Sh2.1m. the money was allegedly paid to him through his company Kai & Kairo Limited.
It was for the importation of a Honda vezel hybrid from Japan which the charge sheet indicates he never delivered.
He allegedly committed the same offence against one Dona Okoth.
The charge sheet says that Dona transferred Sh2.98 million into Kai and Kairo limited KCB bank account.
The money was paid for the purchase of a Subaru outback ‘a fact Kairo knew to be false’.
This offence is said to have been committed on diverse dates between 29 July 29, 2024 and November 16 2024.
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