Former governor Wa Iria, six others charged afresh in Ksh.351M Murang'a graft case

The fresh charges relate to allegations of fraud in a media-buying contract awarded by the Murang’a County Government to Top Image Media Consultants Limited, which the prosecution says resulted in the loss of KSh351,097,491.15 in public funds.

Wa Iria is facing a charge of conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, with the prosecution alleging that between October 21, 2014 and June 19, 2017, the accused conspired to commit fraud in relation to the media-buying contract.

The former governor is also accused of conflict of interest. The prosecution alleges that between May 20, 2014 and June 19, 2017, he knowingly acquired a direct private interest in contracts between the county government and Top Image Media Consultants Limited and received KSh31.8 million from the company.

The amended charge sheet further contains several money-laundering charges involving millions of shillings allegedly received from the county government through Top Image Media Consultants.

The seven accused persons are Mwangi wa Iria, David Maina Kiama, David Maina Njeri, Jane Waigwe Kimani, Solomon Mutura Kimani and Peter Muturi Karanja. Top Image Media Consultants Limited and Value View Limited have also been listed among the accused entities.

In one of the counts, the prosecution alleges that KSh7.5 million was transferred towards the purchase of a property in Umoja, Nairobi, in an arrangement allegedly intended to disguise the source of the money.

Another count alleges that KSh4.5 million was used towards the purchase of two houses through Mlima Kenya Homes, while a separate count involves KSh600,000 allegedly used for borehole blasting on a property in Mweiga, Nyeri.

The accused persons have denied the allegations.

The court has also been informed that at least 13 prosecution witnesses will have to be recalled to testify and be subjected to further cross-examination following the amendment of the charge sheet.