Former Murang’a governor Mwangi Wa Iria on Tuesday April 30, 2024 was released on Ksh10 million cash bail in a Ksh351 million graft case.
During the ruling at the Milimani Law Court in Nairobi, the former Murang’a governor was also given an alternative of Ksh20 million bond or a surety of a similar amount.
At the same time, Wa Iria’s lawyer Wilfred Nyamu requested the court to allow him to deposit two documents of properties worth the bond amount.
This was after Mwangi Wa Iria, his wife Jane Waigwe Kimani and other co-accused persons pleaded not guilty to nine counts of corruption, abuse of office, and money laundering in a Ksh 351 million graft case.
They were charged in court after they presented themselves to Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) headquarters on Tuesday 7:30am, as ordered by Justice Prof Nixon Sifuna on Monday April 29.
On Monday, the Judge ordered them to present themselves at EACC headquarters for fingerprint taking and statement recording, in readiness to take plea before Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on April 30.
Meanwhile, conservatory orders that the former governor, his wife and his brother-in-law, had obtained from Murangá High Court were vacated on Friday, 26th April, 2024 by Justice James Wakiaga of Murang’a High Court and the file referred to Nairobi High Court Division on Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes for further directions.
This was after EACC received a report that Murang’a County Government irregularly awarded tenders for media and publicity to a Company known as Top Image Consultants at a cost of Ksh562,000,000 during the FY 2014/2015 and 2015/2016.
The directors of these companies are Jane Wanjiru Mbuthia and David Maina Njeri who were close associates of former Murangá Governor, Mwangi Wa Iria.
Upon completion of investigations, the inquiry file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution who on 13th April, 2024 recommended the prosecution of governor Wa Iria and others involved in the graft deal.
The accused included Mwangi Wa Iria, Patrick Kagumo Mukuria (Former County Secretary & Current County Commissioner, Kisii), Jane Waigwe Kimani (Wife to the Former Governor and Director, Value View Ltd), Peter Muturi Karanja (Personal Assistant to the Former Governor), Jane Wanjiru Mbuthia (Director, Top Image Media Consultants Ltd), David Maina Kiama (Director, Top Image Media Consultants Ltd), David Maina Njeri (Director, Top Image Media Consultants Ltd), and Solomon Mutura Kimani.
They were charged before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court for the offences of conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, abuse of office, conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of public property and money laundering.
According to the court documents, the procurement process between Top Image Media Consultant and Muranga County Government for media buying and publicity was not awarded competitively.
In addition, the contract was signed before the recommendation for award by the tender committee.
