Joseph Kairu Wambui, popularly known as Khalif Kairo, a social media influencer and car dealer, has broken his silence regarding his upcoming trip to the United States amidst rumors of his arrest.
In a statement issued on Saturday, January 11, the owner of Kai and Karo Yard clarified the purpose of his travels, emphasizing that the trip was business-oriented. According to Kairo, the visit to New York is aimed at securing funding for his company.
“I have investor meetings in New York scheduled for the coming week to raise funds for Kai and Karo through a seed investment round utilizing a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) instrument,” Kairo explained. He further invited interested parties to reach out via his email for more details.
The statement came amid claims circulating on social media suggesting Kairo was attempting to flee to the U.S. to avoid arrest. However, Dr. Mbiti Mwondi, a close associate of Kairo, dismissed the allegations, describing them as baseless and malicious.
“Kairo’s trip is strictly for business purposes,” Dr. Mwondi stated. “He has scheduled meetings with investors in New York next week and locally with potential backers as recently as Saturday evening.”
To support his claims, Dr. Mbiti shared a copy of Kairo’s round-trip ticket, confirming that the car dealer would only be in the U.S. for one week. “Contrary to rumors, this is not a one-way ticket. It’s unfortunate that some individuals are intent on spreading falsehoods,” he added.
Kairo’s alleged arrest has been tied to ongoing accusations of defrauding a client and failing to deliver a vehicle despite full payment. This is not the first time such allegations have been raised against the Kai and Karo Yard owner.
On December 3, 2024, Kairo was arrested and detained at Kasarani Police Station alongside three employees on accusations of obtaining money fraudulently. Authorities alleged that Kairo defrauded a client of Ksh26 million, promising to deliver high-end vehicles but failing to fulfill the agreement.
Despite the challenges, Kairo has denied any intention to scam clients, attributing issues to operational hurdles within his business.
Dr. Mbiti also criticized individuals he claimed were paid to tarnish Kairo’s reputation. “No one becomes successful by spreading hate. The truth remains that Kairo is meeting with investors to expand his business, not evading accountability,” he said.
As discussions surrounding Kairo’s integrity continue to unfold, the car dealer maintains that his focus is on growing his enterprise and addressing challenges in the industry.