Deepak Rajoriya in Oki Trading Kenya’s KES 356M Trial

Last Updated on September 14, 2025 by courtnews reporter

Oki General Trading Kenya trial

The Oki General Trading Kenya trial has taken a dramatic twist. This occurred after prosecution witness Deepak Rajoriya struggled under cross-examination, raising doubts about the credibility of the case.

Rajoriya, a former finance employee of Oki’s parent company abroad, entered Kenya on 25 December 2024 with a tourist visa. Within just two weeks, he was appointed as a director of Oki General Trading Kenya. He quickly commissioned a forensic audit. This audit now forms the backbone of the prosecution’s claim that KES 356 million was misappropriated.

Clean Audits vs. New Allegations

Defense lawyers pointed out that Oki General Trading had undergone independent annual audits for years, which supported its tax filings. None of those audits flagged irregularities. When asked how such a large sum could suddenly appear as “missing,” Rajoriya had no clear response.

Questions Over Evidence

Rajoriya admitted he did not conduct an internal investigation and relied only on the audit he commissioned shortly after arriving in Kenya. The independence and authenticity of that report are now under scrutiny.

KRA Penalty Raises Suspicion

A major revelation was that Oki General Trading is facing a Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) penalty of KES 356 million. This is the exact same figure alleged as misappropriation. This coincidence has fueled speculation. It suggests that the case could be an attempt to shift blame for unpaid taxes onto a former director.

Growing Public Doubt

The trial has left many Kenyans questioning whether the case is really about fraud or simply an effort to avoid a KRA tax bill. Observers note the unusual timeline:

• Rajoriya arrived as a tourist and became a director within two weeks.

• He relied on a disputed forensic audit instead of company records.

• The alleged amount matches the company’s KRA penalty exactly.

What began as a straightforward misappropriation claim has now become a courtroom drama over tax evasion, corporate governance, and credibility in Kenya’s business sector.