Khalif Kairo, a well-known entrepreneur in Kenya’s car import business, has recently found himself at the center of controversy, facing allegations of fraud and scrutiny over his personal relationships. The businessman took to social media to clarify that his business struggles are not linked to his ex-girlfriends, as some members of Kenyans on Twitter (KOT) have suggested.
In a Live X session, Kairo dismissed claims that his business woes were caused by his alleged lavish spending on women. He stated, “The story of women is being blown out of proportion. In 2024, I only dated two women, before I used to have many girlfriends. You have never heard of me having affairs while dating someone, I am very loyal. It is very unfair when you keep associating these two women with my problems. Women are 0.05% of my problems.”
Kairo insisted that his business challenges stem from multiple external factors rather than his romantic relationships. He noted that he had two breakups in 2024, both of which were amicable. He attributed his failed relationships to his workaholic nature, stating, “The reason my relationships have not worked for the last five or six years is because I am a workaholic.”
On January 28, 2025, Kairo addressed concerns regarding delays in vehicle deliveries through his X account. He clarified that the delays were not due to theft but a combination of factors, including external sabotage and aggressive expansion with limited access to capital. He reassured clients that his company had found a solution to the issue.
Despite his reassurances, Kairo’s legal troubles escalated on January 29, 2025, when he was charged with two counts of fraud under Section 315 of the Penal Code. According to the charges, Kairo allegedly deceived two clients into paying substantial amounts for cars that were never delivered. The first charge alleges that between July 10 and July 25, 2024, he fraudulently obtained Sh2.1 million from a client in Westlands for the importation of a Honda Vezel hybrid. The second charge states that between July 29 and November 16, 2024, another client paid Sh2.98 million into his company’s bank account for a Subaru Outback that was allegedly never delivered.
The court granted Kairo a cash bail of Sh1 million for each charge, with an alternative bond option. These legal battles mark a dramatic turn in his career, which began humbly as an errand boy in a bakery before he made his mark in the automotive industry. Having co-founded Imports by Kairo before starting Kai & Kairo Motors in 2022, his entrepreneurial journey now faces one of its toughest challenges yet.
With his business under scrutiny and legal proceedings underway, the future of Kairo’s company remains uncertain. However, his resolve to clear his name and rebuild his business suggests that he is not ready to back down from the challenges ahead.
