Businessman Kirimi Koome charged in Ksh.391M fraud case

Mr Kirimi Koome is accused of conspiring to defraud Desire Muhinyuza, a Rwandese National and the beneficial owner of Stay Online Limited of USD 2,619,583.27, being merchant funds by falsely representing himself as the owner of the said funds.

He is alleged to have committed the offence on diverse dates between July 10  and October 4, 2023, in Nairobi jointly with others not before court and with intent to defraud.

Koome is further charged with stealing Ksh.14,945,000 (USD 100,000) property of Stay Online Limited which had been entrusted to him to make payment of provision of taxes for the said company.

He is also facing another charge of making a false entry in a document for payment of USD 100,000 9ksh.14 million) to his USD Account domiciled at Equity Bank and giving false information to the police.

He pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Lukas Onyina.

The prosecution did not object to his release on bail, however, the complainant asked the court to consider the effect of the matter on other investors.

"It's our prayer that when imposing the bond terms consider the image of the bank ....the merchants whose money was being swindled... and the source of that money. Consider the effect it will have on the international investors," lawyer Dunstan Omari submitted.

The court maintained the earlier cash bail of Ksh.500,000 with two sureties of a similar amount

The matter will be mentioned on November 23.