Kelvin Otieno Onyango, better known as Kevo Sonko, was a man who lived in the fast lane.
At just 30 years old, he had created an image that many of his social media followers admired and envied. His Instagram account was filled with videos showing him holding large bundles of cash, riding in sleek, high-end vehicles, and enjoying the kind of luxury that most people only dream of.
Every post seemed to reinforce the idea that he was a wealthy and influential figure.
The name “Sonko,” slang for a rich and powerful person, became his signature brand and part of his public identity.
He often paid in US dollars, further cementing the impression that money was never a problem for him.
In one widely shared clip posted by renowned designer Bolo Bespoke, Kevo Sonko was seen casually paying for Luo Festival tickets in US dollars, a move that seemed to underline his financial might.
But behind the glamorous facade, trouble was brewing. His carefully crafted image began to crumble when detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrived at his door.
The man who had built an online persona of wealth and success was now being accused of orchestrating a high-stakes scam that cost a foreign investor more than KSh 80 million.
According to investigators, Onyango was part of a sophisticated fake gold export scheme that targeted a Canadian businessman.
The deal was presented as a legitimate agreement to export 250 kilograms of gold to Dubai via private jet.
On April 15, 2025, EAI Logistics allegedly issued the investor a proforma invoice worth USD 318,400. Trusting the arrangement, the victim wired the money directly to Onyango’s account.
But the scheme did not end there. The victim was later convinced to send an additional USDT 300,000 to a bitcoin wallet, supposedly to facilitate the shipment.
In reality, no gold was ever sent, and the promises of delivery turned out to be empty.
Investigators say Onyango, who was listed as the director of SwiftTaxis Logistics Ltd, even hosted the investor in his office to discuss and formalize the fake deal, giving the entire operation a false sense of legitimacy.
In another move, Onyango reportedly arranged for a transfer of USD 140,000 into an escrow account, adding another layer of complexity to the scam and making it harder for the victim to suspect foul play.
What began as a display of affluence on social media has now turned into a cautionary tale about appearances, deception, and the high cost of trust misplaced in the wrong hands.
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