Kenya’s fragile economy is under siege from ruthless tax cheats, and at the heart of a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme is Deepak Rajoriya, Director of Oki General Trading Kenya Limited.
Recent raids by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) have uncovered the illegal importation of perfumes valued at over USD 300,000 (KSh 39 million), which was cleared with just KSh 2 million in duty—a fraction of the actual tax liability.
A Calculated Racket, Not an Oversight
Investigators revealed a deliberate scheme orchestrated through a network of shell companies, including Satnam Limited and Satnam Kenya Investment Limited. These entities were used to falsify import documentation and obscure the fraud from regulatory scrutiny.
Karan Badlani, a director of Satnam Limited, reportedly lived in Kenya for more than two and a half years without a valid visa, operating freely while flouting immigration and tax laws with impunity.
The Rajoriya–Badlani Partnership
- Rajoriya: Manipulated import records and duty declarations.
- Badlani: Provided corporate cover through rotating shell entities.
Together, they ran a transnational network designed to siphon profits abroad while shifting the tax burden onto ordinary Kenyans.
Public Funds Diverted
Each fraudulent consignment represents stolen public resources:
- Money meant for hospitals, schools, roads, and jobs was redirected into private pockets.
- Lavish lifestyles for fraudsters came at the expense of national development.
Experts Demand Accountability
Policy analysts and tax experts warn that superficial enforcement is no longer sufficient. To restore integrity, KRA must:
- Impose severe tax penalties on Oki General Trading.
- Prosecute Rajoriya, Badlani, and their accomplices for fraud, forgery, and economic sabotage.
- Seize assets, blacklist implicated firms, and bar them from future operations in Kenya.
A Turning Point for Enforcement
Kenya cannot remain a haven for corporate fraud. The era of tax evasion masterminds must end—starting with full accountability for Rajoriya, Badlani, and Oki General Trading.
