NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria and six other accused persons have been charged afresh in a Sh351 million corruption case after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) amended the charge sheet.
The fresh charges relate to alleged fraud surrounding a media-buying contract awarded by the Murang’a County Government to Top Image Media Consultants Limited.
According to the prosecution, the alleged scheme resulted in the loss of Sh351,097,491.15 in public funds.
Wa Iria faces a charge of conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, with prosecutors alleging that the accused conspired to commit fraud in connection with the media-buying contract between October 21, 2014 and June 19, 2017.
Wa Iria accused of conflict of interest
The former governor is also charged with conflict of interest.
The prosecution alleges that between May 20, 2014 and June 19, 2017, Wa Iria knowingly acquired a direct private interest in contracts between the Murang’a County Government and Top Image Media Consultants.
Prosecutors further allege that he received Sh31.8 million from the company during the period in question.
The amended charge sheet also contains several money-laundering allegations involving millions of shillings allegedly received from the county government through Top Image Media Consultants.
Wa Iria and the other accused persons have denied the allegations.
Property purchases under scrutiny
The prosecution has also linked some of the alleged proceeds to property-related transactions.
In one of the counts, prosecutors allege that Sh7.5 million was transferred towards the purchase of a property in Umoja, Nairobi, in an arrangement allegedly designed to disguise the source of the funds.
Another count alleges that Sh4.5 million was used to purchase two houses through Mlima Kenya Homes.
A separate allegation involves Sh600,000, which prosecutors claim was used for borehole blasting on a property in Mweiga, Nyeri County.
The transactions form part of the prosecution’s broader case concerning the alleged movement and concealment of funds linked to the Murang’a County media-buying contract.
Seven accused persons and two companies
The amended case involves several individuals and corporate entities.
The accused persons named in the case include:
- Mwangi wa Iria
- David Maina Kiama
- David Maina Njeri
- Jane Waigwe Kimani
- Solomon Mutura Kimani
- Peter Muturi Karanja
Top Image Media Consultants Limited and Value View Limited have also been listed as accused entities.
The prosecution alleges that the companies and individuals were connected to the transactions under investigation.
However, the allegations have not been established as facts, and the accused remain entitled to the presumption of innocence unless convicted by a court.
Witnesses to be recalled
The amendment of the charge sheet is also expected to affect the ongoing court proceedings.
The court was informed that at least 13 prosecution witnesses will have to be recalled to testify again and face further cross-examination following the changes to the charges.
The recall is expected to allow the defence teams to respond to the amended allegations and question witnesses on the additional or altered aspects of the prosecution’s case.
The development could therefore prolong the proceedings as the court works through the amended charges and additional testimony.
