NAIROBI, Kenya — A Nairobi court has charged a man with attempting to extort Sh1.7 million from the Director General of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), allegedly using a constitutional petition as leverage.
Francis Awino Onyango, 40, appeared before Milimani Chief Magistrate Teresia Nyangena on Thursday and denied one count of attempted extortion by threats, contrary to Section 300(1)(a) of the Penal Code.
The charge was brought by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) following investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Special Crime Unit.
According to the charge sheet, prosecutors allege that on January 14, 2026, at KWS headquarters in Lang’ata, Onyango threatened Erastus Kanga with filing a petition seeking his removal from office over alleged violations of Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya.
The prosecution claims the threat was intended to compel payment of Sh1.7 million, rather than pursue a genuine public interest claim.
Court documents indicate that Onyango had earlier filed a petition at the High Court seeking Kanga’s removal, citing alleged abuse of office and integrity breaches. It is the alleged use of that petition as leverage that forms the basis of the criminal charge.
Kanga is listed as the complainant and a key witness in the case.
During the proceedings, the prosecution did not oppose bail but urged the court to impose terms commensurate with the seriousness of the offence, citing public interest concerns.
“Your Honour, we have no instructions to oppose bail and bond. However, this is a matter that has substantial public interest, and we pray that the bail terms be commensurate to the charges,” the prosecutor submitted.
Defence counsel argued for reasonable bail, describing the accused as a human rights defender with a history of filing public interest petitions.
The accused was arrested on April 22, 2026, and arraigned the following day. The court scheduled the matter for pre-trial mention on May 7, 2026.
Chapter Six of the Constitution sets standards on leadership and integrity, providing mechanisms for challenging public office holders.
However, misuse of such provisions for coercion could attract criminal liability under Kenya’s penal framework.
As the case proceeds, the court is expected to examine whether the petition constituted a bona fide legal action or an instrument of alleged extortion, a distinction likely to shape the outcome of the trial.
