UK and US Impose Sanctions on Kenyan Gold Tycoon Kamlesh Pattni

The UK and US governments have sanctioned Kamlesh Pattni, a businessman with deep roots in the illicit gold trade, freezing his assets amidst allegations of corruption and connections to significant scandals in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

The United Kingdom and the United States have taken decisive action against Kamlesh Pattni, a British-Kenyan businessman, by imposing sanctions in response to his alleged role in the illegal gold trade that has plagued Africa for decades. The sanctions, which encompass Pattni and four additional individuals, including his close relatives, will lead to the freezing of their assets, as stated by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

Pattni's name has become synonymous with one of Kenya's most notorious corruption cases, known as the Goldenberg affair, which is estimated to have cost the country over $600 million (£470 million). This scandal, which involved fraudulent gold and currency dealings during the 1990s, implicated high-ranking officials within the Kenyan government. Although Pattni faced a trial for his involvement in 2006, the proceedings were ultimately dismissed.

Despite his previous denials, Pattni is now accused of participating in the illicit gold trade in Zimbabwe, leveraging his connections with former president Robert Mugabe to exploit the nation’s resources financially. The UK government highlighted that illicit gold trading fuels corruption, erodes the rule of law, and fosters human rights violations like child labor.

The announcement also comes amid heightened concerns over the illegal gold trade being used to circumvent sanctions and finance governmental aggressions, notably referencing Russia's utilization of this illicit market to support its military operations in Ukraine.

The US Treasury's declaration underlined that Pattni's operations have extended across various nations and are entwined with organized corruption that deprives local citizens of the benefits from their natural resources. Additionally, Pattni has been implicated in a recent investigation by Al-Jazeera focusing on the so-called "gold mafia" in Zimbabwe, though he fiercely disputed allegations of laundering money or smuggling gold.

As the UK outlines a new initiative aimed at global corruption, it seems that both the UK and US governments aim to disrupt and deter Pattni’s questionable business dealings that tarnish legitimate trade practices.