Kenyan businessman Gor Semelango was recently jailed in Dubai over a shareholder dispute involving a club business with a fellow Kenyan woman.
Despite repeated attempts, The Nairobian could not get comments from Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who is also the Foreign Affairs CS, on the plight of Semelango.
However, what started as a commercial disagreement escalated because, unlike Kenya and many other jurisdictions where such matters are usually civilian cases, Dubai treats these disputes as criminal.
Flamboyant city lawyer Donald Kipkorir, who is a close friend of Semelango, revealed the details of the case on October 24.
Kipkorir criticised the use of Dubai’s legal system to settle disputes between Kenyans and has called on Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’Oei to intervene. He dismissed rumours on social media that link Semelango to money laundering.
Semelango’s arrest came after his last social media post on October 2, when he was seen enjoying the lavish lifestyle he is known for, including luxury yachts and parties.
Before this incident, Semelango was widely known as a businessman with a presence in Kenya’s oil marketing and real estate sectors. He founded Petrokenya Oil Company, which handles import, export, wholesale, and logistical services for petroleum products in East Africa.
In 2020, he sold a portion of his shares in Petrokenya to a UAE firm but maintained a minority stake.
His public profile was further raised during his stint as chairman of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund. President Mwai Kibaki appointed him in 2013, but he was dismissed by President Uhuru Kenyatta the following year.
Semelango often flaunts expensive watches and once gifting his son a brand-new Mustang sports car worth Sh4.5 million.
He was previously jailed in Kenya over a debt dispute with a law firm, highlighting financial troubles at different points in his business journey.
