Deported Zambian Fake Gold Scammer Bupe Chipando Sneaks Back Into Kenya, Raising Alarms Over Border Security

A Zambian national, deported from Kenya in 2022 for orchestrating an international fake gold syndicate and money laundering, has clandestinely re-entered the country, sparking serious concerns over the integrity of Kenya’s border security.

Kenya Insights has independently confirmed that Bupe Chipando, alias Elena, a notorious criminal flagged by multiple security agencies including Interpol, has secretly returned to Nairobi.

His re-entry raises troubling questions about how a high-profile individual, previously blacklisted by authorities, managed to bypass the country’s security apparatus undetected.

Mr. Chipando is currently holed up in upscale apartments in the areas of Kilimani and Kileleshwa, frequently changing his location to avoid detection. Reports indicate that he sneaked back into the country two months ago, evading immigration and law enforcement agencies.

This brazen re-entry has cast a glaring spotlight on the effectiveness of Kenya’s border security and the potential complicity of immigration officers and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

How did a high-risk criminal, previously deported on the express orders of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i, effortlessly re-enter the country? Did he bribe his way through? Which officers were compromised?

These questions are particularly pressing at a time when Kenya is grappling with rising transnational crimes and working to remove itself from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list over money laundering concerns.

Chipando’s criminal exploits are well-documented. On July 11, 2022, he was deported after defrauding Dutch national Bernhard Ten Brinke of over Ksh170 million in a fake gold deal. Prosecutors revealed that Chipando had falsely promised to sell 500 kilograms of gold. He has also been linked to counterfeiting currency, further cementing his reputation as a master fraudster.

Despite his deportation, Chipando’s audacity knows no bounds. Prior to his expulsion, he had established Alinani Precious Metals (APM), a shadowy firm that claimed to be building a Ksh1 billion gold processing plant on Mombasa Road.

The project, targeting artisanal miners in Siaya, Migori, Kisumu, Kakamega, and Homa Bay counties, was marketed as a means to empower small-scale miners.

However, it was merely a front for his elaborate scams.

Public records show that APM operates under the First Group of Companies, which spans Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Chipando poses next to his defunct company.

The conglomerate includes First Line Capital (an investment firm), First Commodity Exchange (a trading platform), and First Cargo Logistics (a transportation service).

These entities provided Chipando with a veneer of legitimacy, enabling him to execute his fraudulent schemes.

Chipando’s return to Kenya underscores the persistent challenge of fake gold scams, which have become a lucrative criminal enterprise in Nairobi’s upmarket neighborhoods.

These fraudsters often reside in high-end apartments, guarded round the clock, where they orchestrate elaborate schemes to defraud unsuspecting investors.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has previously highlighted how these criminals lure foreign investors with promises of gold deals, only to disappear after receiving hefty upfront payments for export and shipment documentation.

The gold, often non-existent or fake, leaves victims with massive financial losses.

Nairobi has increasingly become a hub for transnational crime, including money laundering and illicit financial flows.

Recent court cases reveal a network of flamboyant “businessmen” operating from plush offices adorned with gold-plated furniture and equipped with CCTV cameras.

These individuals, often seen driving luxury vehicles and wearing designer clothes, blend seamlessly into high society, making it difficult to suspect their criminal activities.

In the past three years, detectives have arrested nearly 20 suspects linked to fake gold scams and investment fraud.

However, many of these cases have stalled at the prosecution stage, with pending court cases collectively valued at over Ksh1 billion.

This lack of progress has emboldened criminals like Chipando, who continue to exploit systemic weaknesses.

As authorities scramble to address this security breach, Kenyans are left wondering how Chipando managed to slip back into the country.

His return not only exposes glaring gaps in border security but also raises concerns about corruption within immigration and law enforcement agencies.

With Chipando reportedly back in business, unsuspecting Kenyans and foreign nationals are once again at risk of falling victim to his illicit schemes.

The question remains: what steps will the government take to tighten border security and ensure that such a breach does not happen again?

For now, the re-emergence of this notorious scammer serves as a stark reminder of the challenges Kenya faces in combating organized crime and safeguarding its borders.

Kenya Insights will continue to monitor this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available.