Two Kenyan Scammers Charged With Sh46M Tanzanite Minerals Scam

Humphrey Mulindi Muthahana and Steve Ochieng Odhiambo, on Thursday, April 3, 2025, pleaded not guilty to conspiring to defraud the director of Milestone Gemstone Kenya Limited Company, Emily Silaton Mututua, of Tanzanite minerals.

The two who were arraigned before a Milimani Magistrate Court are accused of approaching the Milestone Gemstone Kenya Limited Company director by falsely pretending that they were able to sell the said Tanzanite minerals in Dubai, a fact they knew to be false.

It is said that on diverse dates, between February 3, 2021, and March 5, 2021, the two jointly conspired to defraud director Mututua, Tanzanite minerals measuring 687.283 carats valued at USD 203,436, which is equivalent to Ksh22,337,273, contrary to Section 317 of the Penal Code.

In the second count, the charge sheet states that on February 5, 2021, the accused, while at the Ministry of Mining within Nairobi County, obtained Tanzanite minerals measuring 456.8 carats valued at USD 147,553, which is equivalent to Ksh16,201,319, from director Mututua, pretending that they will sell it in Dubai.

“Mulindi and Ochieng obtained Tanzanite minerals measuring 456.8 carats valued at USD 147,553, which is equivalent to Ksh16,201,319, from Emily Silaton Mututua, a director of Milestone Gemstone Kenya Limited Company, by falsely pretending they would sell the said Tanzanite minerals in Dubai, a fact they knew to be false,” read part of the charges.

Notably, the accused on March 5, 2021, are said to have again obtained goods from the same Milestone Gemstone Kenya Limited Company director by false pretences contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code.

The charge sheet stated that the accused, while at the Ministry of Mining offices within Nairobi County, obtained Tanzanite minerals measuring 230,483 carats valued at USD 71,883, which is equivalent to Ksh7,892,753, pretending to be able to sell the said Tanzanite minerals in Dubai.

Lawyer Denis Seko, representing the accused, urged the court to release his clients on a reasonable bond.

Milimani Law Courts Magistrate Carolyne Nyaguthii released each of them on a bond of Ksh5, 000,000 or they pay a Ksh2,000,000 cash bail.

The case will be mentioned on April 15, 2025, for further directions.