Police on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, nabbed popular car dealer Khalif Kairo whose real name is Joseph Kairo Wambui for allegedly defrauding a client by promising to deliver high-end cars but disappearing with their money.
Confirming the arrest, Kasarani Sub-County criminal investigations officer Justus Ombati said Kairo is detained at Kasarani Police Station.
He said the dealer was arrested at one of his car yards in the city.
“Yes, he is here. We arrested him today after he pocketed millions from a buyer and he has been elusive to either refund the money or deliver the cars. More complainants have turned up and we have opened a file on him,” Ombati said.
The social media celebrity is charged with defrauding a complainant out of Ksh26 million. According to police, Khalif Kairo is being held alongside three other employees.
Who is Khalif Kairo?
Kairo is a well-known figure in Kenya, recognized for his successful car dealership, Kai and Karo. Recently, however, he has attracted attention for his venture into the aviation sector and his active presence on social media.
In August 2023, Kairo launched Jetman Global, a company focused on aircraft leasing, sales, and consultancy services.
He was also inspired by a music video of a Tanzanian artist featuring a romantic plane trip, which further fueled his dreams.
Beyond personal ambition, Kairo hopes to promote aviation culture in Kenya, making aircraft ownership and leasing more accessible for group travel and family vacations.
Although introducing planes to the Kenyan market poses challenges, Kairo is confident that success in this area could create a thriving industry.
To deepen his knowledge, he earned a private pilot’s license from Flightstar in 2022 and plans to pursue a commercial pilot’s license.
Looking ahead, Kairo has ambitious plans to expand his business empire across Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean.
