A Congolese national linked to a Sh10 billion gold scam case is facing fresh legal trouble after being charged over an allegedly fraudulent Kenyan passport. Assani Elolo Ronaldo was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) while reportedly preparing to travel to Uganda, with investigators now examining how he obtained the travel document and whether the circumstances surrounding its issuance were legitimate.
Highlights
- Assani Elolo Ronaldo pleaded not guilty to three charges relating to an allegedly fraudulent Kenyan passport.
- He was arrested at JKIA on October 13, 2026, while preparing to travel to Entebbe, Uganda.
- Investigators are examining a passport issued under the name Ronald Omondi Owuor in 2017.
- The suspect is also facing proceedings in a separate gold scam case at Kibera Law Courts.
- The case has renewed scrutiny of Kenya’s identity document issuance and verification systems.
Main Story
Congolese National Faces Three Passport-Related Charges
Assani Elolo Ronaldo appeared before the Kibera Law Courts on Wednesday, October 14, where he denied three offences linked to an allegedly fraudulent Kenyan passport.
The charges include making a document without authority, presenting a false document as genuine and providing false information to a public officer.
Investigators allege that Ronaldo was using a Kenyan passport bearing the name Ronald Omondi Owuor when immigration officers intercepted him at JKIA on October 13. He was reportedly preparing to travel to Entebbe, Uganda, when he was arrested.
The offences are brought under Sections 357(a), 353 and 129(a), read together with Section 36 of the Penal Code.
Following his plea, the matter was scheduled for Thursday, October 15, to allow the defence to make submissions concerning bail and bond terms. Ronaldo was remanded at Industrial Area Prison pending the hearing of that application.
Investigators Probe How Passport Was Issued
Following the arrest, investigators were dispatched to JKIA to take custody of the suspect and establish the circumstances surrounding his possession of the Kenyan travel document.
They subsequently requested his travel records under both his Congolese and Kenyan passports, alongside the documents used to support his Kenyan passport application. They also sought biometric verification of his fingerprints.
According to investigators, the Directorate of Immigration confirmed that the biometric verification results matched.
A review of the records indicated that the Kenyan passport had been issued on November 16, 2017. However, the application documentation reportedly showed that it was requested as a replacement for a lost passport.
The discrepancy has prompted further questions about the circumstances under which the document was obtained. Investigators say additional inquiries will be conducted to establish the facts surrounding its issuance.
Existing Sh10 Billion Gold Scam Case
The passport charges come as Ronaldo remains an accused person in a separate gold scam case before the Kibera Law Courts, registered as Criminal Case No. 141/289/2023.
Court records indicate that he had previously missed several court appearances, with his lawyer submitting medical reports to explain his absence.
In December 2025, the court revised his bond conditions and ordered him to surrender his Congolese passport. The Directorate of Immigration was also directed to impose travel restrictions against him.
His arrest at JKIA has now brought renewed attention to the existing case, particularly the measures previously put in place to restrict his international travel.
The latest charges are separate from the gold scam proceedings, and the allegations in both matters remain subject to determination by the courts.
Another Case Raises Questions Over Kenyan Identity Documents
The investigation has drawn comparisons with a separate case involving Nigerian national Temple Tochukwu, who is accused of obtaining a Kenyan national identity card using the name Joseph Temple Obare.
Tochukwu was charged at the Milimani Law Courts in Criminal Case No. 147/179/2026.
According to investigators, he was released on bond but later failed to attend court, prompting the issuance of an arrest warrant.
The two cases have brought renewed scrutiny to the systems used to verify applicants and issue Kenyan identity and travel documents, particularly where authorities suspect that foreign nationals may have obtained them using false information.
DCI Vows to Address Document Fraud
Authorities have continued to pursue cases involving the alleged forgery and misuse of national identity documents.
Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Director Mohamed Amin has said the agency remains committed to tackling the problem.
The investigations are expected to examine how the documents were obtained, whether established verification procedures were followed and whether any further action is warranted.
As the cases proceed through the courts, the focus will remain on establishing the facts, protecting the integrity of Kenya’s identification systems and ensuring that the suspects’ rights are respected throughout the legal process.
The integrity of a country’s identity system depends on more than the documents it issues; it also depends on the safeguards that ensure every document can be trusted.
