Faith Karanja

Former Bungoma governor Wycliffe wangamati has has appeared before an Anti-Corruption Court and denied all the charges.

Among the charges are Engaging in a fraudulent practice in a procurement contrary to the law and acquisition, use of proceeds of crime and conflict of interest.

He is charged alongside 18 others who denied 25 counts before principal magistrate Zipporah W Gichana

The 19 subcontractors are said to have received millions of shillings from several counties in the country, including Kwale Mombasa Taita taveta Igembe Meru and Kisumu among others.

According to the prosecution the accused are said to have committed the offence between 2018 and 2021.

In a charge facing the former governor, he said to have received 19.5 million.

The court ordered the former governor to deposit a cash bail of 1.5 million or provide an alternative bond of 1 million to secure his release pending trial.

The other accused persons were given different bonds and bail ranging from ksh 400,000 to 2.5 million.

Defense through lawyers Brian Khaemba informed the court that all the accused persons are family members who includes two brothers of the former governor.

The court further directed the accused persons who hold passports to deposits them in court.

The trial magistrate directed that the accused should not comment on the matter pending before court or interfere with prosecution witnesses, and further the prosecution should supply all documentary evidence to the defence counsels.

The matter will be mentioned on 18th September for pre-trial.

The two Qamar Salad Abdi and Ifrah Ali Jeyte have appeared magistrate Benmark Ekhubi and denied the charges.

Court was informed that the two on August 28,2025 within Kilimani Subcounty, jointly with others not before Court were found in possession of numerous bundles of 100 USD.

This amounts to USD 560,000 and equivalent to Sh 70,000,000.

Through their lawyer Mohamed Noor, the accused pleaded with the court to be released on bail.

“Your Honour my clients were arrested as they presented themselves in court, one of them is ailing,” added Noor while seeing for bail.

Magistrate Benmark released them on bond of Sh 500,000 or a cash bail of Sh 400,000.

They were ordered to deposit their passports in court as the magistrate has cited seriousness of offence.

Appearing before Milimani Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai, court was informed that a complaint was lodged by SBS Dunhill Group Limited- owned by city billionaire Chris Obure.
Witness Inspector John Munjama currently working at Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) office Kisumu said Obure said the complaint lodged was about a lease that was coming to an end.
He said Obure had complained that he was unlawfully evicted from the property, Senteu Plaza in Kilimani, on 16 May 2025 pursuant to a court order which he claimed had not been stayed.
The officer said he was previously working with Serious Crime Unit at the time of this investigation at DCI headquarters Nairobi.
“Together with Chief Inspector Geoffrey Ndago were tasked by the Deputy to take over an investigation on the file on a case of dispute of business premises from 2016,”he added.
Lead investigator Geoffrey Ndago who also testified said he called Complaint Obure who was Chairman for Dunhill and CEO who was Kimani Irungu who came to their office on February 9, 2024.
They officers said after they recorded statements, they handled over the file to Mr Paul Wachira who was the deputy director Criminal Investigations.
“On 1st February 2024 we were tasked by Deputy Director Investigation Branch to take over investigations from DCI office Nairobi branch, “they said.
Munjama said he took over the file and was an issues of lease of business premises at Senteu Plaza that was supposed to run from 1st of October 2017, it was to run for 6 years.
He said the agreement was between ACS and others companies ltd who are the owners of Senteu plaza and SPS DUNHILL Africa Group who were tenants.
In the case, Obure stands accused of forging board minutes from the estate of the late Ajeetkumar C. Shah, the founding director of the landlord company, to facilitate the disputed purchase, allegedly amounting to Ksh 1.3 billion.
Appearing before Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai, the prosecution introduced its star witness, Pankaj Chhaganlal Shah, Managing Director of the late Shah’s estate.
The Nairobi Law Monthly September Edition
Shah told the court that the plaintiff, SBS Dunhill Group Limited- owned by city billionaire Chris Obure- was evicted from the property, Senteu Plaza in Kilimani, on 16 May 2025 pursuant to a court order which he claimed had not been stayed.
“The tenant is not in the lease building. Through my lawyer we got orders for them to vacate. I don’t know that the orders were stayed and the case is still ongoing,” Pankaj stated before the court.
However, during cross-examination by Obure’s lawyer, Muthoni Nkonge, the businessman conceded that the eviction orders had been contested in court.
It emerged that the property in question is jointly owned by four brothers: the late Ajeetkumar Chhaganlal, the late Chandulal Chhaga
Further testimony revealed that after the lease period, the property was to be sold to SBS for Sh1.3 billion.
“It was also resolved at the said meeting that the prospective Landlord (s) be informed that the Applicant’s International Board of Directors would,” only take up space in their building and invest close to USD Ten Million (say USD 10,000,000.00) therein if the (the Landlords) agree in good faith that they would sell of the building to the Applicant at the expiry of the anticipated six (6)-year Lease term beginning 2017 to 2020 and 2020 to 2023,” Obure testified.
SBS told the court it was irregularly evicted after paying over Sh1 billion towards acquiring the property. Pankaj, however, denied receiving any money related to the sale of the building.…
“The tenant had indicated in a letter that he was in rent arrears and he was looking for money to offset the Rent arrears the money was not paid,” said Pankaj.
He further disclosed that the lease agreements were signed by his two now-deceased brothers, Ajeetkumar and Chandulal, who passed away in 2018 and 2022 respectively. He said he never signed any lease with SBS.

The best forum to settle the dispute is before a civil court. After a comprehensive review by the DPP, application to withdraw the matter under 87A.

Counsel watching brief for the complainant objected saying he needed time to respond to the application, the court directed that all parties file their submissions in support of the application or response, the case to be mentioned on September 30 to confirm filing of the submission.

Seth Mwabe Okwanyo a 26-year-old Meru University dropout has been detained for one day pending the conclusion of investigations. Okwanyo was arrested by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), in connection with hacking into a betting firm and siphoning Ksh11.4 million.

Court filings seen by the press show that Okwanyo was apprehended on August 30, 2025, at his Nairobi residence and presented before the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Milimani Law Courts under Miscellaneous Criminal Application No. E2362 of 2025.

The application was filed by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) through the Banking Fraud Investigation Unit (BFIU), which is probing the case.

According to an affidavit by investigators, the case revolves around fraudulent transactions valued at Sh11,410,165, allegedly siphoned through the Pesalink platform and routed via Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) accounts.

The complainant, Arifsend Money Transfer Limited, reported to the BFIU on July 26, 2025, that 53 suspicious transactions had been executed, bypassing internal security and fraud detection systems.

Investigators believe Okwanyo, a cybersecurity consultant specializing in vulnerability assessment and penetration testing (VAPT), provided fraudulent application links and specific instructions that facilitated the siphoning of funds.

During the arrest the detectives discovered a heavily equipped computer laboratory, a money counting machine, and a safe in the suspect’s apartment.

According to Central Region Criminal Investigations Officer Abraham Mugambe, the betting firm made a complaint to the DCI in July, and detectives immediately launched an investigation.

Mugambi noted that investigations revealed that the suspect stole the millions after he bypassed the security systems of the betting firm’s payment service provider.

“This year, in July, a report was made to the Banking Fraud Investigations Unit in Nairobi that a payment service provider had lost Ksh11.4 million through fraudulent means.

“Investigations commenced and a DCI team of experts from Banking Fraud Unit launched investigations, and they established that the fraud was done through bypassing the payment service provider security systems, and they succeeded in defrauding the complainant of Ksh11.4 million,” said Mugambe.

Mwabe, who describes himself as a cybersecurity engineer and consultant, told detectives that he dropped out of university in his second year.

The case underscores growing concerns over cyber-enabled financial fraud in Kenya, particularly involving mobile and online banking platforms. With financial institutions increasingly relying on digital channels, experts warn that insider knowledge and weak system oversight make banks vulnerable to sophisticated fraud schemes.

If charged and convicted, Okwanyo could face heavy penalties, including long-term imprisonment and asset forfeiture under Kenya’s cybercrime and anti-money laundering laws

Nairobi, Kenya – August 29, 2025 — The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has recommended the prosecution of dozens of high-ranking government officials, business executives, and private contractors implicated in a wide-ranging corruption scandal involving the Sh63 billion Itare, Karimenu II, and Thwake Dam projects.

The announcement was made in a press statement dated July 19, 2025, following investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). The ODPP confirmed that sufficient evidence had been gathered to sustain multiple criminal charges.

According to the ODPP, investigations revealed a well-orchestrated scheme involving inflated contracts, fraudulent payments, abuse of office, conflict of interest, and misappropriation of public funds.

The projects, intended to provide water to millions of Kenyans across Nakuru, Murang’a, and Kitui counties, were crippled by corruption, leading to massive financial losses and stalled implementation.

Those recommended for prosecution include:

• Senior government officials in the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation.

• County officials from Nakuru, Murang’a, and Kitui.

• Directors of private firms, both local and foreign, who won tenders through fraudulent means.

• Consultants and contractors involved in project management and financing.

Among those specifically named in the ODPP’s statement are current and former Permanent Secretaries, County Governors, procurement officers, directors of Italian and German companies, and Kenyan business executives linked to the projects.

The alleged corruption occurred between 2015 and 2022, during the planning, tendering, and implementation of the three flagship water projects.

• Itare Dam (Nakuru County): Abandoned after billions were disbursed.

• Karimenu II Dam (Murang’a County): Faced major cost escalations and procurement irregularities.

• Thwake Dam (Kitui/Makueni Counties): Dogged by irregular tendering and stalled completion timelines.

Investigations were conducted jointly by the EACC and forensic experts, before being forwarded to the ODPP in July 2025.

The ODPP has directed that suspects face charges including:

• Conspiracy to commit corruption and economic crimes

• Abuse of office

• Willful failure to comply with procurement laws

• Engaging in projects without proper approvals

• Acquisition of proceeds of crime under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act

The charges are expected to be filed in the Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi, with high-profile arraignments anticipated in the coming weeks.

The scandal underscores Kenya’s continuing battle with mega corruption scandals that drain public resources and cripple essential infrastructure projects. The dams, once billed as game-changers in water supply and food security, have instead become symbols of mismanagement and impunity.

If prosecutions proceed, this case could rank among the largest anti-corruption trials in Kenya’s history, rivaling the Anglo Leasing and Arror/Kimwarer dam scandals.

The ODPP has officially written to the EACC to proceed with arrests and arraignment of the suspects. Kenyans will now be watching closely to see if the matter leads to actual convictions or whether it will join the long list of stalled high-profile corruption cases.

Self-styled Businessman Joseph Lendrix Waswa will know his fate in Sh 400M fake gold scam case on September 3,2025.

This is the day that the court is expected to deliver a ruling on whether to withdraw the charges  as state has proposed.

When the matter came before magistrate Georffrey Onsarigo today,court was informed that the prosecution intends to withdraw the charges after the file against first accused was reviewed.

“We intend to withdraw the charges against the first accused since after review of file,it has been established that the alleged offense was not successiful and also the complainant is the state,”added Onsarigo.

The prosecution sited some authorities to back its application and the defense did so too.

They quoted section 157 of the consitution on freedom of the office of ODPP among others.

Magistrate Onsarigo demanded to know whether the complainant has been notified on the intentions to withdraw the case and set the date for ruling as he go through those applications.

In this case, Waswa, Akula, and the other accused Nelson Eru, Roland Johnson, Joseph Gikonyo, Alice Kavata, Ian Wekesa, and Duncan Muchai are charged with conspiring to defraud a Tunisian businessman, Bilel Arfaoul, of USD 400,000 in a fake gold scam.

According to the charge sheet, Waswa is accused of possessing 634,178 forged US dollar notes, in denominations of one hundred dollars each, knowing them to be counterfeit.

The incident allegedly took place on September 7, 2023, at Villa Mawe in Nairobi’s Garden Estate, where Waswa and his co-accused are said to have been involved in a fraudulent gold deal with Arfaoul.

In a separate charge, Officer Akula is accused of possessing a firearm without a valid license from the Firearm Licensing Board. He is also facing charges of being found in possession of sixteen rounds of ammunition without the proper authorization.

Waswa allegedly contacted Arfaoul, informing him that he had a consignment of gold valued at one billion shillings that he wanted to sell.

According to the investigating officer, Nicholas Njoroge, Waswa and his accomplices told the foreigner that the gold consignment was being held in a warehouse at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.

The complainant then traveled from Tunisia and arrived at JKIA on September 1, 2023, where he was received by Waswa and his group. The Tunisian businessman was then hosted in Nairobi’s Ngara area, waiting to be shown the gold consignment.

However, when Waswa insisted that payment be made for the gold consignment before showing it, Arfaoul remained cautious, requesting to see the consignment first. On September 7, 2023, the suspects met with the complainant in Ngara and took him to a residential property (LR No. 4894/152) in Garden Estate, allegedly belonging to Waswa.

The police, who had been trailing the suspects, arrested them at the house, though some accomplices managed to escape by scaling the perimeter wall.

“Upon conducting a search at the house, USD 4.68 million was found inside metal boxes, which the complainant had been told contained the gold consignment,” Njoroge stated in an affidavit filed in court. “However, most of the boxes contained sand and pieces of stones, not gold.”

The police also recovered several mobile phones used by the suspects to defraud victims, which were seized at the house.

Constable Festo Akula Wamwayi, stationed in Kisasi, Kitui County, was arrested at the scene after reportedly trying to assist the suspects following their initial arrest.

Waswa has previously made headlines for various criminal activities. In 2014, he was arrested and charged with the alleged murder of Mitch Kibiti, the son of Bungoma County’s former Education Chief Officer, David Kibiti, following a dispute at his Etonia Club in Kimilili.

In 2015, Waswa caused a stir at Bungoma Law Courts when he appeared with 10 “bodyguards,” prompting a Flying Squad operation that led to the arrest of the guards, though they were later released.

In February 2019, Waswa and six others were arrested for impersonating President Uhuru Kenyatta’s voice to con Sameer Africa chairman Naushad Merali out of Sh10 million.

All the accused persons have denied the charges and are currently out on Sh250,000 cash bail each, pending the continuation of the trial.

Nakuru businessman Nyakundi Evans has filed a fresh application before the High Court, seeking judicial intervention over what he terms as violations of his constitutional rights.

Nyakundi Evans, a well-known figure in Nakuru’s business and civic circles, has over the years been involved in various community initiatives while simultaneously facing mounting legal and administrative challenges.

Though details of the present case are emerging, court filings show that Nyakundi believes he has been unfairly targeted, with actions against him allegedly amounting to harassment and abuse of due process.

Sources close to the businessman suggest that he has faced regulatory hurdles, business disputes, and administrative actions that have negatively affected both his reputation and livelihood. This application, therefore, represents his latest effort to fight back through the courts.

The application, filed on August 28, 2025, outlines a series of grievances and legal grounds upon which Nyakundi seeks relief, citing breaches of his fundamental freedoms and unfair treatment.

Through his legal counsel, city lawyer Danstan Omari, Nyakundi argues that state agencies and individuals named in the case have acted in a manner that infringes upon his rights. The petition emphasizes that unless the court intervenes, Nyakundi stands to suffer irreparable harm.

What the Application Seeks

In his pleadings, Nyakundi is asking the High Court for:

• Declarations that his constitutional rights have been violated.

• Injunctions to restrain further alleged harassment or unlawful actions against him.

• Orders of protection to secure his businesses and personal interests pending the full hearing of the case.

The filing also underscores that continued inaction would not only jeopardize his personal freedoms but also cause lasting financial and reputational damage.

According to the filings, Nyakundi is seeking a range of court orders, including declarations that his rights have been violated, as well as injunctions restraining further actions against him. The matter has been certified urgent, and a hearing date is expected to be set in the coming days.

Speaking after filing the case, lawyer Danstan Omari confirmed that his client was determined to pursue justice to its logical conclusion. “This application is about protecting fundamental rights that have been trampled upon. We shall not relent until justice is served,” Omari said.

The case is likely to attract public interest, given Nyakundi’s prominence in Nakuru and Omari’s reputation as a high-profile litigator often associated with constitutional and human rights cases.

As the legal battle unfolds, all eyes will be on the High Court to determine whether the application will succeed and what precedent it may set in similar matters.

Keroche Breweries Limited is once again staring at a fresh crisis after its former Managing Director, Sam Kruschev Shollei, filed a petition in court seeking to have the company liquidated over an unsettled judgment debt.

A notice dated August 21 and lodged by Achach & Associates Advocates LLP informs creditors and contributors of the petition and invites them to either support or oppose it during a scheduled hearing at the High Court in Nakuru.

“Take notice that a petition for the liquidation of the above-mentioned company was on May 23, 2025, presented before the High Court at Nakuru by Sam Kruschev Shollei, and the same has been fixed for hearing,” the notice states in part.

The dispute stems from a long-running labour case. In 2022, the Employment and Labour Relations Court awarded Shollei over Sh52 million as compensation for wrongful and unfair dismissal. While a portion of the award was settled, approximately Sh45.5 million remains unpaid.

According to court records, accrued interest and legal costs have since pushed the claim to nearly Sh75 million. Shollei contends that despite repeated demands, Keroche has failed to clear the outstanding debt, leaving liquidation as the only viable recourse.

The petition piles further pressure on the Naivasha-based brewer, which has for years grappled with tax disputes with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and persistent cash-flow challenges that continue to strain its operations.

Founded in 1997 by Tabitha and Joseph Karanja, Keroche Breweries rose to prominence as Kenya’s most successful homegrown alternative to multinational beer giants, with a diverse portfolio spanning beers, spirits, and ready-to-drink vodkas. However, its continued financial struggles—and now the looming liquidation bid—pose an existential threat to the future of the iconic Kenyan brewer.

A petition seeking to remove National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) Chairperson Samuel Kobia from office has been filed in court.

In a petition filed by Elizabeth Ochieng’, Kobia has mismanaged the Institution’s finances which is against the law.

“Kobia has breached ethical conduct and public has no more trust with him, “added Ochieng’.

She wants the relevant bodies to thoroughly investigate the allegations of financial mismanagement and fraudulent activities by Kobia including abuse of office, Gross financial mismanagement and Academic fraud.

Ochieng’ is also seeking immediate removal of Kobia from office based on findings of investigations so as to prevent the image of the commission.

In that petition filed on August 11, 2025, Ochieng’ adds that Kobia undertook multiple international trips at high cost while NCIC faced financial constraints.

She has said that Kobia has failed to adequately respond to issues raised in audit reports, arguing that this shows a lack of transparency and weak accountability within the Commission.

On academic grounds, the petition claims that Kobia possesses fake academic papers, calling into question his qualifications for a position of such public importance.

Ochieng’ is now asking President Ruto to launch a full investigation into the allegations and recommend the immediate removal of Kobia if the claims are substantiated.

She is also urging the President to implement stronger oversight mechanisms at NCIC to prevent similar incidents in the future, protect public funds, and restore confidence in the institution’s leadership.

The petition, she says, is necessary not only to address the alleged mismanagement and misuse of authority but also to ensure that NCIC operates within the principles of good governance, financial integrity, and public accountability.

She calls for swift action to safeguard the reputation of the Commission and strengthen public trust in its ability to promote cohesion and integration across the country.

Businessman Rajendra Shanghani has narrated to court how he recorded City debt collector Samuel Brian Yongo Otumba while threatening to Kill Him.

Appearing before magistrate Peter Mutai, Rajendra said Yongo threatened to kill him and told him even the then Governor Mike Sonko could not help him.

“I recorded YONGO using my IPhone 16 and saved it on messenger application on Facebook, he called me and told me not to leave my compound as he is coming for me,” added Rajendra.

The videos of alleged threats were played and produced in court YONGO said they were in contract with him to collect debt for him and demanded him to narrate what led to those threats.

During cross examination, Mr. YONGO who was representing himself asked the victim to narrate the events that took place on April 12, 2024 the day in which he claims he was assaulted.

Rajendra said initially the conversation was flowing well but later turned into threats from Yongo, he said there was a time YONGO requested him for money but he did not return it back.

He said his life was in danger because of the threats and YONGO threatened to shoot him.

In the case, YONGO is charged with threatening to kill another businessman.

He is accused of threatening to kill Rajendra Shanghan in Park Land area in Wetlands sub-county.

In the first count, he was accused of threatening to kill on 12th April 2024 where he is said to have made unprintable insults and subsequently threatened to kill.

In the second count Yongo was charged with cyber-crime, computer misuse and harassment where he was accused of sending a threatening message to the complainant through WhatsApp text.

The prosecution told court that text sent by Yongo to Rajendra was likely to cause apprehension or fear of violence.

He was released on Sh 200,000 bond plus one contact person or alternative of ksh 100,000.

The controversial businessman is linked to Neptune credit Management limited company, a company that recover debt on behalf of creditors from defaulters.

Hearing continues.