NAIROBI, Kenya — A suspected serial fraudster, Abiud Esonga Mulwale, has been arrested and charged in Nairobi for allegedly conning Kenyans through social media platforms.
Esonga, who had reportedly been on the run for months, was apprehended on October 28 and arraigned the following day. He became a person of interest after allegedly defrauding Dr. Ismael Omondi, a Kenyan doctor in Australia, of more than KSh 1.4 million in a fake tractor import deal.
Court documents reveal that Omondi entered into an agreement on January 30, 2025, with Tractor Exports Group S.A. Ltd., reportedly operating out of Seyhan, Turkey. The deal involved a refurbished 2001 New Holland Fiat 80-66 tractor, scheduled to ship from the Port of Mersin to Mombasa.
Dr. Omondi made five separate payments to a bank account registered under Mega Tractor Supplies Limited, controlled by Esonga through Brilliant Holdings Ltd. After receiving the funds, Esonga allegedly switched off his company-registered mobile lines, cutting off communication with the victim.
According to the charge sheet, Esonga faces one count of obtaining money by false pretenses under Section 313 of the Penal Code. Between January 21 and May 15, 2025, he is alleged to have fraudulently obtained KSh 1,172,417 by falsely claiming he could import the tractor from Turkey—a claim he allegedly knew was false.
Esonga appeared in court on October 29 and was released on bond pending further proceedings.
Private investigator Jane Mugoh, speaking to TUKO.co.ke, revealed that Esonga has at least eight other fraud-related cases pending in court. She added that he has repeatedly evaded justice with the alleged assistance of his uncle, a lawyer, who helps him manipulate legal proceedings.
