Meet Samuel James Kinyanjui, the Nairobi Tycoon Every Bank Has 'Rejected'

Controversial Kenyan billionaire Samuel James Kinyanjui has lamented that all local banks have rejected his money.

The Nairobi tycoon, who has been under probe over his suspect financial dealings for years, said banks refused to serve him after receiving instructions from banking fraud investigators.

Kinyanjui has moved to the court seeking  orders to have banking fraud detectives barred from blacklisting him.

“I have been to several banks and have been informed that the first respondent has circulated my name under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act and listed me under the anti-money laundering records,” he says in his application.

In 2015, anti-money laundering agency linked the tycoon to a network of US, Nigeria and South Africa-based individuals suspected to be working with him in moving large sums of money around the world in laundering scheme.

Kinyanjui has invested heavily in real estate sector, which is part of his massive business empire. His wealth include Sh2 billion Edenville Estate in Kiambu and a multi-million flower firm, Torito Roses.

The businessman says his vast business is suffering because he cannot get any financial services from banks as a result of the banking fraud unit’s directive.

In 2015, the court allowed him to continue operating one of his bank accounts held in Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), which had been blocked as part of the probe.