In a scandal that has shaken Kenya’s business and political elite, Bruce Otieno Oliende, known by aliases including Bruno Otieno Oliende, Elijah Murenzi Maliba, and Joseph Lugansa, has emerged as a central figure in a series of audacious gold scams that have defrauded foreign investors of hundreds of millions of Kenyan Shillings.
At the heart of the latest controversy is the case of American investor Ms Marjorie Grant, who was allegedly conned out of KSh12.7 million in early 2023. Lured by promises of lucrative returns from a 33-kg consignment of gold supposedly from Burkina Faso, Ms Grant was persuaded to part with funds, purportedly to cover customs duties to clear the cargo through Nairobi. What she didn’t realize was that she had walked into one of the most brazen frauds in recent history.
Oliende, alongside co-accused politician Seth Steve Okute, who contested the Karachuonyo parliamentary seat on an ODM ticket, was arrested and charged in a Nairobi court. Both pleaded not guilty and were released on a cash bail of KSh100,000 each.
This case was just the tip of the iceberg. Investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) unearthed a broader syndicate, implicating Oliende and Okute in defrauding at least two American investors of KSh66.7 million. Police raids on plush properties in Kitusuru and Kilimani yielded fake gold bars, counterfeit foreign currency, and forged documents.
This is not the first time Oliende’s name has appeared in court filings. In 2021, he faced a civil suit alleging the use of multiple identities to commit financial fraud, including falsified bank transfers and fabricated documents. In another high-profile incident in 2020, a Chinese investor reportedly lost KSh727 million, with funds traced to an account registered under another alias, Brian Otieno Oliende.
Even more perplexing is Oliende’s political ambition. He contested the Suna East parliamentary seat in Migori County as an independent candidate in the 2022 general elections. His political aspirations now lie in tatters, overshadowed by mounting legal troubles and public outrage.
These revelations have heightened concerns over Kenya’s growing reputation as a global hotspot for gold-related fraud. The country’s loosely regulated mineral trade has become fertile ground for criminal syndicates. As demands intensify for stricter oversight and investor protection, questions persist about how many more victims exist, and how many criminals continue to operate with impunity.
The DCI continues to pursue fresh leads, with more arrests potentially imminent. Meanwhile, the DPP is expected to announce whether additional charges will be brought against Oliende and his associates in the coming weeks.
As Kenya watches this case unfold, one thing is clear: the story of Bruce Otieno Oliende is not merely one of personal deception. It reflects the urgent need for legal reforms, institutional vigilance, and a robust justice system to safeguard trade integrity and investors’ rights.
