Oki General Trading Kenya
The high-profile case involving Oki General Trading Kenya took a dramatic turn this week after prosecution witness Deepak Rajoriya struggled under cross-examination. What began as allegations of a KES 356 million misappropriation is now being viewed through the lens of possible tax evasion and attempts to deflect liability from the company’s ongoing dispute with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
Who Is Deepak Rajoriya?
Rajoriya, a former finance employee of Oki’s parent company abroad, testified that he traveled to Kenya on 25 December 2024 on a tourist visa. Within just two weeks, he was installed as a director of Oki General Trading Kenya and immediately ordered a “forensic audit.” That audit now forms the foundation of the prosecution’s case.
Cracks in the Prosecution’s Case
1. Clean Annual Audits Ignored
Defense lawyers emphasized that Oki General Trading had undergone independent annual audits, which supported its tax filings. None of those audits revealed missing funds. When pressed to explain how such a large sum could vanish without being flagged earlier, Rajoriya was left speechless.
2. No Independent Evidence
Rajoriya admitted he carried out no internal investigation and relied solely on reports from an auditor he personally appointed weeks after arriving in Kenya. The independence and authenticity of these reports are now being questioned.
3. The KRA Penalty Connection
The defense highlighted a striking coincidence: Oki General Trading is facing a KRA penalty of KES 356 million, the exact figure cited as “misappropriation.” This has sparked speculation that the case may be an attempt to shift tax liability away from the company by blaming a former director.
Rising Public Doubts
For many Kenyans following the trial, the circumstances raise red flags:
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A witness arriving as a tourist but becoming a director in just two weeks.
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A contested forensic audit replacing years of clean audits.
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Allegations that mirror the company’s tax arrears with KRA.
The unfolding courtroom drama is shifting from a narrative of fraud to one of corporate tax evasion. Observers are asking: Is Oki General Trading genuinely pursuing justice, or simply trying to dodge a massive tax bill?
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