Gor Semelang'o detained in Dubai, lawyer Donald Kipkoir ask govt to aid his release

Kenyan lawyer Donald B. Kipkorir has appealed for government help after revealing that his friend, Evans Gor Semelang'o, has been detained in Dubai.

Kipkorir, a well-known advocate and political insider, said the detention stems from a business dispute that has wrongly turned into a criminal case under the UAE's strict laws.

Posting on X this morning, Kipkorir explained that his 'BFF' was detained following a disagreement with a Kenyan woman over a nightclub business.

He said Dubai's legal system, which sometimes treats business disputes as criminal matters, was being used unfairly against his friend.

Kipkorir described Semelang'o as "a man with a big heart" who is not driven by tribal or political bias.

My BFF Gor Semelang'o has been incarcerated in Dubai over a Club Business shareholder dispute with a Kenyan lady. In Dubai, commercial disputes which are ordinarily civil are criminal. I have asked our good Foreign Affairs PS @SingoeiAKorir to use our diplomatic relations with...

- Donald B Kipkorir (@DonaldBKipkorir) October 24, 2025

The lawyer called on Kenya's Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing'oei, to use diplomatic channels to help resolve the issue quickly.

Korir detailed that Semelang'o, a flamboyant Kenyan businessman and former chairman of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund during Mwai Kibaki's presidency had been incarcerated further arguing that Dubai's legal framework, which often criminalises commercial disputes, is being weaponised against his friend, a man he praised as tribally neutral and possessing a "big heart."

However, the unfolding saga has been shrouded in speculation, with rumours swirling about the true nature of Semelang'o's arrest.

Unverified reports circulating on social media and in local media circles suggest that the detention may be linked to broader investigations into alleged money laundering.

While Kipkorir's narrative frames the issue as a straightforward contractual disagreement, these rumours hint at a more complex web of financial dealings, potentially involving Semelang'o's extensive business interests and past philanthropy.

Semelang'o, a figure synonymous with lavish events and high-profile sponsorships, has long been a colourful presence in Kenya's social and economic landscape.

His tenure as chairman of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, a role he held from 2013, earned him recognition for boosting youth entrepreneurship.