The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has asked a Kenyan court to extradite a Chinese national wanted in Uganda over an alleged fraud involving more than Sh151 million.
The 39-year-old man was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on August 11 after arriving in Kenya from Zimbabwe, following an arrest warrant issued by Ugandan authorities.
The Directorate of Immigration Services officers effected the arrest before he could leave the country.
The ODPP has now filed extradition proceedings seeking orders for the suspect to be surrendered to Uganda, where he faces 30 counts of forgery and one count of theft.
“The DPP has today filed extradition proceedings against a 39-year-old Chinese national wanted by the Government of Uganda to face criminal charges arising from an alleged fraud involving UGX 4,533,379,400 (approximately Sh151 million),” the ODPP said in a statement on Tuesday.
Ugandan authorities accuse the suspect of abusing his position as a cashier at a steel company to manipulate weighbridge records and payment vouchers.
Prosecutors said he allegedly used his access to the company’s financial and payment systems to facilitate the fraudulent transactions.
“He allegedly exploited his access to the company’s payment documentation and financial processes to facilitate the offences,” the ODPP said.
Uganda formally sought Kenya’s assistance in securing the suspect’s arrest and return to face trial. The request, initially dated April 18, 2025, was transmitted to Kenya through the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice.
The ODPP has opposed the suspect’s release on bond, arguing that he poses a flight risk given that he is a foreign national facing criminal proceedings in another country.
The prosecution wants him kept in custody as the extradition proceedings are heard and determined.
The case now places the Kenyan court at the centre of Uganda’s efforts to have the suspect returned to face the fraud and forgery charges.
If the court grants the extradition request, the suspect will be surrendered to Ugandan authorities to face the 31 charges arising from the alleged manipulation of the company’s financial records and payment processes.