A director of the popular Nairobi eatery, Ranalo Foods Dala Limited, has pleaded not guilty to a dozen criminal charges arising from what prosecutors describe as a calculated attempt to oust a fellow director through forged documents in an alleged boardroom coup.
Stella Anne Mutheu Osewe, a co-director of the company, appeared before Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi at the Milimani Law Courts, where she was formally charged with 12 counts of forgery, uttering false documents, and making false statements in connection with the purported resignation of her co-director, William Osewe Guida.
The case, prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), stems from internal wrangles within Ranalo Foods. The complainant, William Osewe Guida, is a former director of the company, while the accused, Stella Osewe, continues to serve on its board.
Appearing in court for her plea, Ms. Osewe denied all charges. Her defence, led by counsel who emphasized her cooperation with the investigating officers, urged the court to consider lenient bail terms, citing her voluntary surrender to police and ongoing family-led mediation efforts.
According to the detailed charge sheet filed by the ODPP, the alleged offences took place on 1st August 2022. Prosecutors allege that Ms. Osewe forged a series of documents purporting to show that Mr. Guida had voluntarily resigned from the company and transferred his shares.
Counts I, VII, and IX accuse her of Forgery, contrary to Section 345 as read with Section 349 of the Penal Code, involving three documents namely a resignation letter, an affidavit of resignation, and an affidavit of share transfer, all allegedly bearing Guida’s forged signature.
In Counts VI, VIII, and X, she faces charges of Uttering a False Document under Section 353 of the Penal Code for knowingly submitting the forged documents to the Director of Business Registration Services, a move prosecutors say was meant to formalize Guida’s removal.
Two additional forgery counts Counts II and XI, relate to falsified board minutes dated 1st August 2022, purportedly recording Guida’s resignation. The prosecution further alleges that she presented these minutes to the registrar’s office, resulting in Counts III and XII of uttering false documents.
A separate charge, Count IV, accuses her of Making a False Statement by a Company Official under Section 329(a) of the Penal Code, by falsely claiming Guida had resigned in official company filings.
During the bail hearing, the defence maintained that the dispute was rooted in a family misunderstanding rather than a criminal enterprise. The defence counsel described the charges as “expensive and sensitive,” arguing that continued negotiations between the parties could lead to an out-of-court settlement.
The prosecution, however, urged the court to impose reasonable bail to secure the accused’s attendance, stressing the gravity of the offences and the potential impact on corporate governance integrity.
After hearing both sides, Principal Magistrate Ekhubi granted a bond of Ksh 500,000 with an alternative cash bail of Ksh 250,000, noting that the accused had cooperated with investigators and voluntarily presented herself to authorities.
The court scheduled the matter for mention on a later date to allow pre-trial directions and monitor the progress of the ongoing reconciliation efforts between the parties.
