An American national has been arraigned in a Nairobi court for allegedly defrauding a fellow American investor of USD 357,300 (approximately KSh 46,091,700), under the pretext of investing the funds in gold exports to Dubai and a World Food Programme (WFP) project.
Philip William Knight appeared before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina on Monday, where he denied the accusations. He is said to have defrauded Casey Drew Cain by promising to invest the money through his two companies: Sunshine Minerals Canada Limited (SMCL) and Hallo Global Project Management Limited.
The court heard that despite Knight’s promises of substantial returns, he failed to deliver on any of the proposed gold export projects to Dubai. The complainant, represented by lawyer Geoffrey Nyakundi, further alleged that no progress was made in the investments.
Prosecutor Joyce Olajo, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Renson Ingonga, requested that Knight be detained for 10 days to allow the Serious Crimes Department of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to complete their investigation. The court granted the request, and Knight was remanded at Kilimani Police Station.
Olajo informed the court that the alleged fraud occurred between September and October 2024. The case began when Knight approached Cain, introducing him to several investment opportunities and requesting funds to finance the projects. On September 27, 2024, Cain provided Knight with USD 25,000 at a coffee shop, where Knight, in his capacity as manager of Sunshine Minerals Canada Limited, signed an acknowledgement note.
Subsequently, on October 3, 2024, Knight pitched a new investment—a charity project under his companies, aimed at empowering women in Kenya. He told Cain that the project, which was linked to the WFP, would be impactful and beneficial for Kenyan women, equipping them with skills and knowledge. Knight offered Cain the position of Project Manager for the World Food Programme, requesting an additional payment of USD 16,300.
Knight also promised Cain that the WFP project would generate billions of dollars, with a projected profit of USD 125 million (KSh 16,125,000,000). Cain paid the requested sum of USD 16,300 to Knight’s Palm Springs residence along Dennis Pritt Road, Nairobi.
Knight later introduced Cain to the gold trade and asked for a further USD 525,000 for the project, with both parties signing a Deposit Collaboration Agreement (DCA). On October 10, 2024, they entered into a formal contract in which Cain, with his long-term partner Dr. William B Woodward, was to finance the WFP project. Dr. Woodward transferred USD 281,000 from his Wells Fargo Bank account in the USA to fund the project.
Knight also asked Cain for an additional USD 35,000 to cover administrative costs for the WFP project, which Cain paid at the offices of Sunshine Minerals Canada Limited, located on Kilimani Road in Nairobi.
In total, Cain paid Knight USD 357,300 (KSh 46,091,700) for the various projects, but none of the promised investments or projects were delivered. Olajo urged the court to remand Knight for 10 days, stating that he was a flight risk and should be denied bail.
Knight, however, vehemently denied being a flight risk, explaining that he was a resident of Nairobi, married to a Kenyan woman, and had three children. He presented his marriage certificate and requested to be released on bail, asserting that his family was evidence of his ties to the country.
Despite his arguments, the magistrate ordered Knight to remain in custody for further interrogation and for witness statements to be recorded by DCI officers.
