NAIROBI, Kenya – A Nairobi court has charged a company director with stealing more than Sh356 million from his own firm in what prosecutors have described as a high-level corporate fraud.
Honey Khatwani, a director at OKI General Trading Limited, was arraigned on Monday before Milimani Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego, where he faced a charge of theft by director.
The court heard that Khatwani allegedly stole $2,786,174.40 (approximately Sh356,711,174.40) from the company between January 1, 2020 and June 30, 2024, while operating in Barbado, Nairobi County.
According to prosecutors, the accused misappropriated the funds while serving as a director of the trading firm, effectively defrauding the company he helped oversee.
In his defence, Khatwani—through his lawyer Kennedy Echesa—pleaded for lenient bail terms, arguing that he is a Kenyan resident with family in the country and poses no flight risk.
“The accused is innocent until proven otherwise,” said Echesa. “We urge the court to uphold the bond terms under which he was earlier released.”
Khatwani was initially arrested and released on a Sh200,000 cash bail, which his legal team asked the court to maintain.
However, the prosecution opposed the application, citing the magnitude of the alleged fraud and calling for stricter bail conditions.
They also urged the court to compel Khatwani to surrender his passport and any other travel documents, warning that he could flee due to the amount of money involved.
In a separate plea, Khatwani informed the court that he was unwell and requested to be allowed treatment at Avenue Hospital.
Magistrate Alego is set to rule on the bail application on Tuesday.
