The prosecution alleges that he orchestrated a visa scam that caused substantial financial losses.
Fresh testimony from one of the alleged victims has revealed new details about the case.
Bonventure Aradi testifies in court
Bonventure Aradi, a director of Golden Key Travel Consultants Limited, testified before Magistrate P. Mutai.
He told the court that his company believed Obare could facilitate Canadian visas.
Aradi said Golden Key forwarded money collected from clients for visa processing.
“Employees of Golden Key were sending money to Brian… on behalf of the company,” he testified.
He explained that the company processed all payments through official channels.
According to Aradi, Golden Key paid more than Ksh51 million because it believed Obare had genuine connections to the Canadian Embassy.
He said the company expected Obare to process the visas successfully.
Company claims it trusted the accused
Aradi told the court that Golden Key collected passports and supporting documents from clients.
The company then handed the documents and payments to Obare.
He said several employees handled the transactions and documentation.
“Golden Key has employees… and those employees send money to Brian,” Aradi told the court.
He maintained that the company relied on Obare’s representations throughout the process.
He later discovered that none of the visa applications succeeded.
Clients and company suffer losses
The court heard that many clients failed to travel despite paying for visa services.
Some passengers were reportedly denied boarding, arrested, or turned back after authorities found their travel documents invalid.
Aradi said Golden Key has refunded more than Ksh34 million to affected clients.
He added that the company arranged alternative travel to European destinations for some customers.
Investigators recover alleged fake documents
The prosecution alleges that Obare presented himself as a Canadian consulate official.
Investigators told the court they recovered additional identification documents during his arrest.
The items allegedly included a fake Seychelles ID and an expatriate employee card from Seychelles.
Both documents carried Obare’s name and reportedly expired on October 30, 2024.
High court retains key exhibits
The High Court also heard a revision application challenging the release of property seized during Obare’s arrest.
The judge ruled that the lower court released the items too early.
“I find that it is/was premature to release the items at the Pre-Trial stage,” the court ruled.
The judge added that the orders breached legal procedure and required intervention.
The High Court ordered investigators to retain mobile phones, laptops, and a motor vehicle until the trial ends.
The judge also ruled that the trial court could not release exhibits before the prosecution formally produced them as evidence.
“I find that the court erroneously found that the listed items were not exhibits,” the judge stated.
Investigators continue to examine several digital devices through forensic analysis.
The court also retained a Land Rover Discovery, registration KDM 279R.
The judge said the trial must first determine ownership of the vehicle and its possible link to the alleged offences.
Fraud charges continue
Prosecutors have charged Obare with obtaining Ksh51,244,650 by false pretences contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code.
They allege that he falsely claimed he could process Canadian visas.
The prosecution argues that those representations caused major financial losses to Golden Key Travel Consultants Limited and individual clients.
The matter first came before Magistrate Lucas Onyina.
He later recused himself after stating that members of the defence had approached him in an attempt to compromise the case.
The trial continues.
The prosecution seeks to prove that Obare coordinated a deliberate scheme to defraud unsuspecting victims.
