Nairobi, September 30, 2025 – In a wood-paneled courtroom filled with tension, flamboyant businessman Philip Chrisantus Obure, better known as Chris Obure, stood stoically in a striking purple suit alongside his co-accused as the magistrate delivered a pivotal ruling.
The judge, declared that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case, shifting the burden to Obure to defend himself against serious charges of forgery, uttering false documents, giving false information, and conspiracy to commit a felony.
This marks a critical escalation in a six-year saga centered on the ownership of Senteu Plaza, a prime commercial property in Nairobi’s upscale Kilimani area.
The case, which unfolded in dramatic footage captured inside the Milimani Law Courts, stems from allegations that Obure orchestrated a sophisticated scheme beginning in 2019 to falsely claim control of the multibillion-shilling building.
Prosecutors accuse him of forging board resolutions and a sale agreement to defraud foreign investors out of millions, presenting these fabricated documents to assert ownership through his company, SBS Dunhill East Africa.
Obure, who denied the charges when arraigned in January 2025, was granted bail at the time—Sh200,000 cash or a Sh500,000 bond with a surety—but now faces the prospect of a full trial where he must rebut the evidence against him.
Obure’s troubles with Senteu Plaza have been mired in controversy for months.
Earlier this year, in August 2025, the Business Premises Rent Tribunal ordered an urgent inspection of the property amid escalating ownership disputes, highlighting the ongoing legal battles over tenancy and control.
He scored a temporary victory in June when a tribunal ruled his May eviction from the premises was unlawful, ordering his reinstatement and paving the way for potential compensation.
However, the reprieve was short-lived; by July, Obure reported to Kilimani Police Station that he feared for his life, citing suspicious vehicles tailing him and threats from goons on motorcycles, all linked to the intensifying property feud.
This is not Obure’s first brush with the law. His name has surfaced in several high-profile scandals, including a 2020 incident where he was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of businessman Kevin Omwenga during a botched fake gold deal at Galana Suites in Kilimani.
Omwenga was allegedly killed with a firearm belonging to Obure, though the businessman was later acquitted in a related firearms case due to lack of evidence, while his bodyguard, Robert Ouko Bodo, served a one-year sentence for illegal possession.
More recently, in 2024, Obure was implicated in a scam that defrauded a U.S. citizen of $400,000 through counterfeit gold, further cementing his reputation in Nairobi’s shadowy world of high-stakes fraud.
As the trial looms, legal experts anticipate a protracted battle, with Obure’s defense team likely to challenge the authenticity of the prosecution’s evidence.
The case not only underscores the perils of property disputes in Kenya’s booming real estate market but also casts a spotlight on the intricate web of business dealings that have long surrounded one of Nairobi’s most enigmatic figures.
Obure’s next court appearance is expected to draw significant attention, as the flamboyant entrepreneur fights to clear his name amid mounting scrutiny.
