Suspect arrestedA Congolese national facing charges in a Sh10 billion gold scam case has been charged with offences relating to an allegedly fraudulent Kenyan passport, a day after his arrest at JKIA.
Assani Elolo Ronaldo was on Wednesday, October 14, charged before the Kibera Law Courts with three offences relating to an allegedly fraudulent Kenyan passport.
Elolo pleaded not guilty to making a document without authority, uttering a false document and giving false information to a person employed in the public service.
The charges relate to a Kenyan passport issued in the name of Ronald Omondi Owuor, which investigators allege Elolo was using when he was intercepted by immigration officers on October 13, 2026, while attempting to travel to Entebbe, Uganda.
The charges include making a document without authority, contrary to Section 357(a) of the Penal Code; uttering a false document, contrary to Section 353; and giving false information to a person employed in the public service, contrary to Section 129(a), as read with Section 36 of the Penal Code.
The matter was adjourned to Thursday, October 15, for the defence to make an application on bond and bail terms. Elolo was remanded at Industrial Area Prison pending the hearing of the application.
According to investigators, a team was dispatched to JKIA to take custody of Elolo after receiving information about his arrest.
The Congolese national is also an accused person in a gold scam case pending before the Kibera Law Courts under Criminal Case No. 141/289/2023.
Court records indicate that he repeatedly failed to attend previous proceedings, with his defence counsel presenting medical reports to explain his absence.
In December 2025, the court tightened his bond terms and directed him to deposit his Congolese passport in court. It also ordered the Directorate of Immigration to impose travel restrictions against him.
Following his arrest at JKIA, investigators sought his travel history under both his Congolese and Kenyan passports, the documents used to apply for the Kenyan passport, and biometric verification of his fingerprints.
Investigators said the Directorate of Immigration had confirmed that the biometric verification results matched.
A review of the records established that the Kenyan passport was issued on November 16, 2017. However, the corresponding application form indicated that it had been sought as a replacement for a lost passport.
Investigators said the discrepancy had raised questions about the circumstances under which the travel document was issued, adding that further investigations would be conducted.
The case bears similarities to another investigation involving Nigerian national Temple Tochukwu, who allegedly obtained a Kenyan national identity card in the name of Joseph Temple Obare.
Tochukwu was charged before the Milimani Law Courts under Criminal Case No. 147/179/2026.
According to investigators, he was released on bond but subsequently failed to attend court, prompting the issuance of a warrant of arrest.
The two cases have drawn attention to the processes used to obtain Kenyan identity and travel documents and the measures in place to prevent their alleged misuse by foreign nationals.
Both cases remain subject to court processes, and the allegations must be determined by the courts.
Authorities have been working to address cases involving the alleged forgery or misuse of identity and travel documents.
DCI Director Mohamed Amin said the agency was determined to address the menace.
