Tag: Chris Obure

Billionaire Chris Obure Seeks Police Protection Claims Threat to Life After Court Victory Over Senteu Plaza

Chris Obure claims life threats following reinstatement to contested Kshs. 1.3 billion Senteu Plaza

NAIROBI, Kenya – Prominent businessman Chris Obure has requested police protection after allegedly receiving death threats following his court-ordered return to the disputed Senteu Plaza property in Kilimani.

The Group Chairman of SBS Dunhill (East Africa) Limited filed a formal complaint with Kilimani DCI on Tuesday, claiming his safety is at risk after regaining possession of the commercial building for which he paid Kshs. 1.3 billion.

Obure, accompanied by veteran lawyer Hon. Gitobu Imanyara, told investigators he has been under surveillance by unidentified individuals in unmarked vehicles and motorcycles since the court ruling in his favor.

He directly accused auctioneer Zachary Baraza of orchestrating the alleged intimidation campaign.

Businessman Chris Obure at Kilimani Police Station accompanied by his lawyer Gitobu Imanyara when he made the formal complaint.

“The harassment began immediately after the court reinstated my client to the property,” Imanyara told journalists outside Kilimani Police Station.

“We are formally putting this on record – should any harm come to Mr. Obure, Mr. Baraza must be held accountable.”

The businessman claims the surveillance has intensified since he regained control of the prime Kilimani property, with suspicious vehicles trailing him and unidentified motorcyclists monitoring his movements.

The Senteu Plaza case has drawn significant public attention as it involves substantial sums and allegations of improper conduct in the property auction process.

The court’s decision to reinstate Obure suggests the original eviction may have been carried out unlawfully.

The Kilimani DCI is expected to investigate the threats while considering Obure’s request for enhanced security protection.

July 30, 2025
Drama As Court Orders Obure’s Reinstatement at Senteu Plaza After Unlawful Eviction

Tension gripped Senteu Plaza on Lenana Road, Nairobi, on July 28, 2025, after the Business Premises Rent Tribunal (BPRT) ordered the reinstatement of city businessman Chris Obure to his business premises, following what the court ruled was an unlawful eviction by property owner Ajeetkumar C. Shah and others.

In a ruling delivered by Hon. Cyprian Mugambi Nguthari (Chairperson), the tribunal directed that Obure, through his company SBS Dunhill Group (EA) Ltd, be allowed full access and occupation of the premises located on the first floor of Senteu Plaza, identified as L.R. 1/1373 (Original Number 1/989 & 1/990).

The tribunal ordered the respondents to reopen the premises and restrained them from any further eviction or interference with Obure’s tenancy. In a rare move, the judge also allowed Obure the option to break into the premises if denied access and directed the OCS Kilimani Police Station to ensure enforcement of the order and maintain peace.

The businessman, who had been evicted two months ago, moved to the tribunal claiming he was wrongfully removed despite being in the process of purchasing the building—a claim he insists was frustrated by the property owners.

The court further issued a temporary injunction restraining Shah, his agents, and assignees from harassing or intimidating Obure pending the hearing and determination of the case. The landlord was also directed to bear the costs of the application.

The ruling was officially signed and sealed by Hon. Willy Maina (Deputy Registrar).

Orders attached below.

July 28, 2025
Business Mogul Chris Obure Wins Major Property Dispute, Seeks Compensation for Alleged Fraudulent Eviction

Nairobi businessman Chris Obure has secured a significant legal victory in a contentious property dispute over Senteu Plaza, a building he claims to have paid Ksh 1.3 billion toward purchasing.

The Chairman of SBS Meriton Group of Companies, which owns JET SPA World and Vista JET Global (East Africa) Limited, successfully challenged what he describes as an “illegitimate and illegal eviction” from the Kilimani property carried out in May 2025.

The Business Premises Rent Tribunal (BPRT) has now vacated and stayed the original eviction orders issued by Hon. Mike Makori on February 27, 2025, following a ruling by Tribunal Chairman Hon. Cyprian Mugambi on June 27, 2025.

Allegations of Fraud and Corruption

The case has taken a dramatic turn with allegations that court documents were fraudulently signed by a deceased person.

Obure claims that affidavits supporting the eviction were allegedly signed by Ajeetkumar Chhaganlal Shah, the founding director of the landlord company, despite his death on April 24, 2018.

“It is laughable that the Indian so-called Landlord went to Court to evict my companies from a property that I have paid a total of Ksh 1.3 billion to-date,” Obure stated. He added that he had invested approximately Ksh 100 million in beautification of the building and adjacent roads.

According to documents provided, the Kenya Registrar of Persons confirmed that Ajeetkumar C. Shah died of cardiac arrest at M.P Shah Hospital and was cremated on April 28, 2018. The matter was reportedly referred to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in October 2023.

Financial Dispute Details

The dispute centers on significant financial transactions between Obure’s companies and the landlord. Bank statements allegedly show that Ajeetkumar C. Shah and Others received substantial payments totaling over Ksh 900 million from various Obure-associated entities between 2017 and 2023.

These payments reportedly included:

• USD $8.1 million in foreign currency transfers
• Ksh 67.6 million in local currency payments
• Large deposits from companies including GLO JET International, SBS Meriton Group, and Cullinan Private Jets Corp Limited.

Obure has filed a fresh compensation suit at the Milimani Commercial High Court, seeking damages of not less than Ksh 5 billion against the landlord and associated parties, including auctioneer Zachary Barasa of Siuma Auctioneers.

The case is being handled by a legal team led by Hon. Gitobu Imanyara, with additional representation from Prof. PLO Lumumba and Mrs. Caroline Oduor.

A related case (BPRT/E553/2025) seeking to restore Obure’s possession of the property is scheduled for mention before Hon. Cyprian Mugambi on July 1, 2025.

The underlying ownership dispute remains pending at the High Court Environment and Lands Court (Case No. E112/2023), with the next hearing scheduled for July 9, 2025.

June 30, 2025
Court Allows State To Recover Sh18M From Chris Obure In Money Laundering Case

The High Court has given the greenlight for recovery of over Sh18 million from two private jet leasing firms, linked to businessman Chris Obure.

The Assets Recovery Agency will recover the monies from Cullinan Private Jets Corp and Glo Jet International Limited, following suspicions of their involvement in a complex international money laundering syndicate.

In a judgment delivered by Justice Patrick Otieno at the Milimani High Court Anti-Corruption Division, it was declared that the sums of money held in various accounts belonging to the two firms, subsidiaries of United States-registered companies, were derived from illegal activities and should be forfeited to the state as proceeds of crime.

The decision follows investigations that uncovered a money laundering syndicate involving the firms, which are subsidiaries of US-based private air charter companies.

These funds, amounting to USD 54,257.85 and Sh696,070.70 in the account of Cullinan Private Jets Corp at I&M Bank, as well as USD 24,712.61 and Sh1,134,691.33 in the account of Glo Jet International Limited at Ecobank, were ordered forfeited to the government.

“These sums are and are hereby forfeited to the state,” Justice Otieno ruled.

The court ordered the two banks to transmit the forfeited amounts to ARA within seven days, once served with the formal court order.

The case stems from a complaint filed by Rondell Fletcher, a California-based businessman, who alleged he was defrauded by the two firms after he made substantial payments of USD 412,000 for cargo and passenger charter services that were never provided.

Fletcher claimed that in August 2023, he paid USD 412,746.55 to the firms, expecting the charter services to transport goods from Nairobi to Dubai.

However, the flight was never booked, and the money was allegedly diverted for other purposes, raising suspicions of money laundering.

“I was led to believe I was engaging in a legitimate business transaction, but after I made the payments, nothing happened,” Fletcher said during the case proceedings.

“The services were never provided, and no aircraft was shown to me.”

Alfred Musalia, the investigator handling the case, testified that the complex ownership structure of the firms and the flow of funds raised significant concerns of money laundering.

“The movement of money and the intricate shareholding between the companies made it clear that the funds were not being used for legitimate business purposes,” Musalia explained in court.

In his defense, businessman Obure, who represents the firms locally, argued that the funds were received in the ordinary course of business and were part of a legitimate transaction.

Through their lawyers, the firms explained that Fletcher had initially inquired about the services and had made the payments for a cargo and passenger flight.

“On August 1, 2023, we received an inquiry from Fletcher for cargo and passenger charter services. He paid the agreed amount, and we sent the necessary funds to cater for the flight preparations,”

“The funds were received as part of a legitimate business agreement.” the private jet firms lawyer told the court.

“We were prepared to carry out the agreed service, but unforeseen circumstances prevented the flight from taking place.”

However, the court was not satisfied with this defense.

Justice Otieno pointed out that the firms failed to produce any tangible evidence that they had the required facilities, including a licensed jet, to carry out the services they had promised as claimed.

“There was no evidence of an aircraft being available for Fletcher’s use, nor any documentation showing that the firms were authorized to offer such services in Kenya.

“It was crucial for the respondents to demonstrate that they had the necessary facilities and licenses to carry out the agreed business,” Justice Otieno said.

“They failed to provide convincing proof that they were operating legally, and the funds were diverted to unrelated purposes.”

The court emphasized that the onus was on the firms to prove that the funds were obtained legally.

“As such, the funds must be forfeited to the state to deter criminal activities and protect the interests of the public.

January 23, 2025
Kenyan Authorities Clears Two American Airlines Of Money Laundering Allegations

By Ken Ngurachgi

Two top highly rated United States of America (USA) registered Private JET Airlines, Cullinan Private JETS Corp and Glo-JET International Air have been cleared by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) – Africa on Money Laundering probe after satisfactory verifiable documents were submitted by the airlines to The Law Enforcement Agencies.

On Wednesday, August 23, 2023, a transaction amounting to $ 50,000 (Fifty Thousand U.S Dollars) were wired from Cullinan JET Kenya Account at (I&M) to their sister Company – Global Jet International Air Account based at EcoBank Limited.

Due to strict Rules on Money Laundering Laws, I&M Bank Riverside Branch’s Relationship Manager – Ms. Reshma Patel questioned why funds were moving from one account to another – just a day after a substantive incoming TT Wire from an account of the U. S mother company (Cullinan Private JET USA) to the local Kenyan Company (Cullinan Private JET Kenya Limited) with an account resident at – I&M, Riverside Branch. She suspected that the same was possible money Laundering funds and therefore as required by the regulator of the banking sector in Kenya – Central Bank, Ms. Patel reported the matter to The Financial Reporting Centre (FRC) raising a concern over the $ 50,000 USD that was transferred from Cullinan Private JET I&M to Global JET Kenya Ecobank Accounts respectively. Cullinan and Global JET are companies with offices in the United States and Australia.

This prompted Asset Recover Agency (ARA) – a State Agency under Kenyan State Law Office to move to court on Friday, August 25, 2023, to obtain an immediate freeze order so as to commence their investigations, on the report submitted by Ms. Reshma Patel from I&M Bank Limited. The investigations have been on with Cullinan Private JET demanding that FBI from U. S be involved in the process since they never trusted the Kenyan investigative arm. They read malice in all the fiasco stating that the company handles Billions of U. S Dollars. They have been banking with the same bank ever since and wondering why they can raise an alarm, over a paltry $ 50,000.00

A Former FBI Agent – who is also aware of the probe, reiterated that Cullinan, being an American company cannot engage in such illicit trade and money laundering as alleged by I&M. The way the I&M Compliance report was drafted raises more questions than answers. “I suspect that I&M was annoyed that instead of keeping the funds with them, Cullinan Private JET moved the funds to a competitor bank – EcoBank. This is a case of a disgruntled wife not happy with a co-wife”, said Marco – who’s real name cannot be disclosed because he is not authorized by the agency to speak.

He Continued, “I don’t believe FRC, ARA and I&M. Something is truly a miss. Why would you freeze an account of an international company that controls Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in another Kenyan Bank (not I&M). When Cullinan decided to fund I&M from the U. S, and moves a small amount to EcoBank, that becomes a full-blown report with leading Media house writing a lot of filth and trash on a company that is in the league of Emirates. This is unacceptable. Cullinan JET should sue these guys. I mean look at this report from FRC.? This is an underwhelming orpington chicken fight. Not American at all. The FBI has now cleared the Company and gave them clean bill of health”, lamented Marco.

Document.

This news came as a relief to the Kenyan Charter Managing Director – Capt. Paul Stenberg since the International Board of Directors sitting in Sydney, Australia had resolved to shut down the Kenyan Operations and move the Regional Office for Africa to Johannesburg – South Africa.

“Look here Mr. Kuria. Media should report facts. We are a reputable Multi-Billion U. S Dollar Private JET Company with footprints in forty-seven (47) countries around the world. Our company is a member of the Meriton Group, yet another Fifty Year-(50)-Old Multi Billion U. S Dollar Real Estate Company located in Sydney, Australia. There is no way that our company can be involved in Money Laundering especially over a paltry $ 50,000 USD that is being reported by a section of the media here in Kenya. If anybody has doubt, e-mail me via: [email protected] ,” said Capt. Stenberg.

When asked about a Mr. Chris Obure, shareholding, he responded, “I also read, with utter shock, that one Kenyan Businessman – Mr. Chris Obure is an official representative of our companies in Kenya. This is false. The Registrar of companies (BRS) has the correct records at CR 12. Every Kenyan and the rest of the world can check for themselves the ownership of the companies. I don’t know this gentleman. He doesn’t work for this company. You are asking me to comment on a person that I don’t know. Out of my 213 employees here in East Africa, none goes by that name.”

Asked why certain journalists are mentioning Chris Obure as their main character in their recent articles, Mr. Stenberg responded, “That’s laughable. The story that appears on Nation and Business Daily, by one Richard Munguti, is disturbing. You see a lot of vendetta on this man – Chris Obure – who we have no association with. Mr. Munguti seems to have a personal grudge with Mr. Obure. He is now dragging Cullinan to that drama. All these moves make us doubt the writers professional IQ. He states horrendous things which are never associated with us. Has never been because we have a reputation to preserve. If doing business in Kenya is this hard, we’d rather close business and move to South Africa. That will knock down our worldwide continental spread to forty-six (46). Life will continue, nonetheless.”

Capt. Stenberg reported that Mr. Richard Munguti from Nation (Print Media) and other bloggers need to get their facts right. Not to engage in “theatrical razzmatazz and publishing scandalous demeaning underwhelming opaque articles. “How do you put a picture of a man standing with some Maybach glasses on and make him the boss of our company in Kenya? I mean, it’s a mockery. I can also bring Obama to stand at some market place in Kogelo, Siaya county and make him the area chief”, laughed Capt. Stenberg.

Cullinan Private JET Corp is now free to operate and continue doing business in Kenya. According to information from their website, the company is in the business of provision of highly VVIP Private Charter HIRE around the world. They handle both cargo and passenger charters globally. From our due diligence, Cullinan Private JET Corp is the only company in Africa that conducts thorough forensic verification on cargo shipments before issuing quotation. They have a Risk and Compliance (RC) Form 401 [a] that is always handed over to the customers to fill out so that they can take the same to Customs Department to verify the authenticity of bonded merchandise. The company also affirms and asserts that they don’t handle Cargo Clearance, export processing and the cargo. Their only encounter with the is after the goods are properly scanned by the owners to pave way for loading, once all the Export Documents have been submitted by the Customer to the Risk and Compliance Desk – at the loading BAY.

September 17, 2023
Mudavadi Masterminded The Sh1.3B Anglo-Leasing Theft, Ex-Minister Reveals

Transport Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Chris Obure, who is facing charges in connection with the scandal, told an anti-corruption court that it is Musalia Mudavadi, who initiated the Anglo Leasing project when he served as Transport minister in President Daniel arap Moi’s Kanu government. Obure was the Finance minister.

According to Obure, Amos Wako, who was the Attorney General, gave the green-light for the project, in his capacity as the chief legal advisor of the government.

Standing in the dock, Obure told the court that Mudavadi wrote to him on May 9, 2002, seeking direct procurement of equipment for upgrading postal services in the country.

The CAS told the court that Mudavadi sought his permission to use direct procurement for the equipment from an American company known as Spacenet to connect more than 900 postal offices in Kenya.

“l first got involved in the procurement in this case on May 9, 2002, when I received a letter from then Transport and Communications minister Musalia Mudavadi requesting that l approve single-sourcing and direct procurement for the contract,” Obure told the court.

According to the Mudavadi’s letter, the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) was still largely dependent on Telkom Kenya, a situation that hindered its growth and profitability, Obure told the court.

As such, the ministry wanted to develop PCK as an autonomous entity and that would require the financial assistance of the government.

“Mudavadi informed me in the letter that it was the government’s intention to develop and upgrade the Postal Corporation of Kenya,” Obure told the court.

Obure, who is charged alongside former Transport Permanent Secretary Sammy Kyungu, said he was authorised by Mudavadi to sign the contract document on behalf of the ministry. Obure and Kyungu face several charges of corruption, abuse of office and breach of trust.

Denying that he abused the powers of his office as Finance minister, Obure said he believed Mudavadi when he told him the government had embarked on a programme to upgrade postal services in the country.

Obure, who was led in his defence by lawyer Chacha Odera, told the trial magistrate that Mudavadi told him that postal services would be improved through data network upgrading.

He said Mudavadi asked him to offer him assistance in achieving the government’s noble goal.

The court heard that the new equipment would enable the delivery of telegram and electronic services including transfer of salaries for teachers and other public servants.

“Mudavadi, through the letter, told me that it would cost more than Sh900 million to upgrade postal services in the country,” said Obure.

“The new technology, once put in place, would ease transfer of payment for teachers and members of TSC and other government entities,” he added.

He said that Mudavadi’s request to have him approve the direct procurement in the single sourced service was necessitated by the fact that the Ministry of Finance was the financier.

“Only the Finance ministry is mandated to negotiate and enter into contracts with foreign firms on behalf of the government and that is why the Transport minister wrote to me,” said Obure.

The CAS informed the court that upon receipt of the letter, he sought technical advice from the Director of Procurement in the ministry.
Four days later, with the advice of technocrats, Obure wrote back to Mudavadi asking to be supplied with further documents, including a copy of the draft contract and details of the terms of the project financing. He also sought justification for seeking direct procurement.

“This would help me analyse and understand the extent of the procurement and whether it fell within the parameters allowed for borrowing,” Obure explained.

The court heard that the documents were forwarded to the procurement department for technical advice and action.

Mudavadi also wrote another letter to Obure, detailing justification for direct procurement, the CAS said.

He noted that the project involved transfer of huge data and had internal security considerations given the potential threat of computer hackers.
Obure said he also sought legal opinion on the project from Wako, who told him the contract was legally viable.

He said that upon getting the AG’s nod, he signed the contract documents committing the government. Later the government paid $11.7 million (Sh924.3 million) for the supply of VSAT communication network for PCK. Hearing continues.

December 2, 2021