Khalif Kairo Hits Back at His Former Business Partner in an Explosive Interview

On March 23, 2025, Kenyan businessman Khalif Kairo, known for his ventures in the automotive and aviation industries, took to the mic in a highly anticipated podcast interview with Eric Mutiso of the EOTWE podcast. Titled “KHALIF KAIRO’S EXPLOSIVE REJOINDER TO CLEMENT,” this episode has sent ripples through Kenya’s online and business communities, offering a raw and unfiltered response to allegations made by his former business partner, Clement Kinuthia. As of today, March 24, 2025, the interview is already shaping up to be a pivotal moment in Kairo’s ongoing public narrative—one marked by resilience, controversy, and a relentless pursuit of redemption.

The Backdrop: A Business Fallout Turned Public Saga

Khalif Kairo, the CEO of Kai and Karo Motors and Jetman Global, has been a polarizing figure in Kenya’s entrepreneurial landscape. Rising from humble beginnings in Kawangware, Nairobi, Kairo built a reputation as a savvy car dealer and social media influencer, amassing a following with his flashy lifestyle and bold business moves. However, his journey has not been without turbulence. In 2022, his dramatic exit from Imports by Kairo, a company he co-founded, sparked a feud with Clement Kinuthia, an investor and director who allegedly orchestrated Kairo’s ouster. The fallout, compounded by legal troubles and accusations of fraud in early 2025, has kept Kairo in the headlines.
The EOTWE podcast episode serves as Kairo’s latest platform to address these events head-on, particularly Kinuthia’s claims from a prior interview on the Iko Nini Podcast. In that earlier appearance, Kinuthia accused Kairo of mismanagement and personal betrayals, including messaging Kinuthia’s wife with allegations of infidelity. The narrative flipped public sympathy toward Kinuthia, who has since revived his own car importation business with online support. Kairo, however, was not about to let the story end there.

The Interview: A Blow-by-Blow Retort

Hosted by EOTWE, a platform known for dissecting economic and business controversies, the podcast wastes no time diving into the meat of the dispute. Kairo delivers what the episode’s title promises—an explosive rejoinder. Over the course of the discussion, he systematically dismantles Kinuthia’s allegations, offering his side of the story with a mix of defiance and detailed recollection.
Kairo begins by revisiting the origins of Imports by Kairo, emphasizing that he founded the business in 2017 as a solo venture before partnering with Kinuthia and other investors in 2020. He alleges that the partnership soured when his role was reduced to a mere “poster boy,” despite his efforts driving the company’s growth to selling nearly 20 cars per month. “I was the face, the hustle, the vision,” Kairo asserts, claiming that Kinuthia and the investors exploited a contractual clause that locked him into a low salary and limited shares, refusing to renegotiate as the company scaled.
The personal accusations, particularly the claim about messaging Kinuthia’s wife, are met with a fiery rebuttal. Kairo denies the incident outright, calling it a fabricated smear to tarnish his reputation. “This is a man who turned a business disagreement into a soap opera,” he says, accusing Kinuthia of playing the victim to garner public favor. He also addresses the broader narrative of his downfall, framing his legal woes—arrests in January 2025 over undelivered cars—as the growing pains of an honest entrepreneur navigating a tough economic climate rather than evidence of fraud.

Beyond the Feud: Kairo’s Vision and Resilience

While much of the interview focuses on settling scores, Kairo also uses the platform to reaffirm his business ethos and future plans. He speaks proudly of Kai and Karo Motors, which he relaunched after leaving Imports by Kairo, and Jetman Global, his aircraft brokerage venture started in 2023. “I’ve built something from nothing twice now,” he notes, underscoring his ability to bounce back. He hints at upcoming projects, teasing a potential expansion into new markets, though he keeps specifics under wraps.
Kairo’s tone throughout the interview oscillates between indignation and optimism. He acknowledges the challenges—economic downturns, betrayed trust, and public scrutiny—but insists they are par for the course for any ambitious entrepreneur. “Every big name you know has faced litigation or money problems at some point,” he says, citing his faith and tenacity as the drivers keeping him afloat.
Public Reaction and What’s Next
As of this afternoon, March 24, 2025, the podcast is already trending across Kenyan social media, with reactions pouring in on platforms like X. Supporters laud Kairo’s candor and resilience, seeing him as a scrappy underdog fighting against betrayal and systemic hurdles. Critics, however, remain skeptical, pointing to the unresolved fraud allegations and his flamboyant persona as red flags. “Kairo talks a big game, but where are the cars his clients paid for?” one X user quipped, reflecting the lingering distrust.
The interview’s timing is notable, coming just weeks after Kinuthia’s resurgence and amid Kairo’s efforts to rebuild his brand post-arrest. It’s a calculated move to reclaim the narrative, but whether it will sway public opinion or merely deepen the divide remains to be seen. What’s clear is that Kairo is not backing down. As he puts it toward the episode’s close, “I’m still here, still building, still winning—watch me.”
For those intrigued by Kenya’s dynamic business scene or captivated by Kairo’s rollercoaster journey, the EOTWE podcast is a must-listen. It’s not just a rebuttal—it’s a window into the mind of a man determined to turn setbacks into comebacks, one explosive story at a time.