Controversial Nairobi businessman has been making headlines in last few years for seemingly several wrong reasons.
Recently, Barclays Bank threatened to close all his accounts for not revealing the source of his wealth as required by new regulations.
We have compiled a list of top controversies surrounding Kobia that should interest you:
1. In November 2011, he was named in a UN report as a key suspect involved in the illegal smuggling of gold from Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2011, DRC President Joseph Kabila alleged Kobia was one of the people who stole 2.5 tonnes gold worth Sh8 billion from his country.
2. Although a Kenyan national, the UN report alleged he carried a false Congolese passport under the name Ilunga Ngoei (or Paul Ilunga). But he once told a newspaper that he was nicknamed Ilunga Ngoei or ‘Prezda’ (president) by his friends from DRC because of their respect for him.
3. On November 2, 2010, Kobia had been arrested and charged with pretending to sell 825kg of gold and obtaining $200,000 (Sh17.4 million) from a South African Dennis Ray Schmelzenbach but was later cleared.
In 2009, using the name Paul Ilunga Ngoei, Kobia allegedly received $350,000 (Sh35 million) from the US-based Community Finance Group as part payment in a deal for 300kg of raw gold, a deal that turned out to be a con.
4. Kobia is reported to have a customs office at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport “which only operates at night.” It has seven doors, only accessed through fingerprint and retina scanning. According to UN investigators, he has (or once had access to) a Government of Kenya seal, and letterheads from several government and private institutions.
“Kobia allegedly gets police (officers) to man the door at the (Great Lakes Group’s) JKIA office and engages the services of a person referred to as the ‘Chief Customs Officer’,” a confidential source once revealed.
“After they have been shown gold at the airport office (linked to Great Lakes subsidiary Sapphire Freighters), prospective buyers are told to deposit money in an escrow account to cater for lift charges (airport charges, customs fees, freight and clearing costs).”
However, once buyers dealing with Nairobi’s gold merchants deposit money in escrow accounts, they lose the cash and do not get any gold. The most common reason the gold scam artistes give is alleged objections or demands for documentation by local, regional, or international authorities.
5. In 2015, Kobia was questioned over the death of opposition leader Raila Odinga’s son Fidel allegations he vehemently denied.
“We had our political differences with Fidel at that time but that’s just that. Fidel was a good friend of mine and I wouldn’t be that evil to kill a good man. I have since visited the Raila family at their Karen home and we agreed to put the matter behind us. Mama Ida welcomed me when I paid them a courtesy call,” said Kobia.
6. He once claimed to have paid Sh16 million in cash for two Range Rovers at a Nairobi car bazaar and said he was among the first Kenyans to import an Audi Q7.
7. Though extremely wealthy, he does not have a university degree — something he claimed stopped him from vying for governor in 2013.
8. He claims to be the commander of an outfit known as the ‘Uhuru Big Boys Unit’ that supports the President. But Dennis Itumbi, the Director of Digital at State House, says: “Many people claim many things, it is not the duty of the President to follow up every claim.”