Court freezes property of ex-Governor Mwangi wa Iria's wife in Ksh.542M graft probe

The High Court has frozen two properties belonging to Jane Waigwe Kimani, the wife of former Murang'a Governor Mwangi wa Iria, pending the determination of a suit in which EACC is seeking to recover Ksh.542,610,615 from the ex-County boss which it believes he acquired fraudulently during his tenure.

The two properties, jointly valued at Ksh.16,300,000, are located in Umoja, Nairobi and Mweiga, Nyeri County.

According to EACC, in the period between 2013 and 2017, the then Governor Wa Iria irregularly awarded tenders amounting to over Ksh.500 million to Top Image Media Consultants, a company that he allegedly has links to.

"Top Image Media Consultants had been solely awarded media buying tenders worth Ksh.542,610,615 out of all companies prequalified between financial years 2013/2014 and 2016/2017," reads court documents.

"The investigation revealed that the Director of Top Image Media Consultants Limited, Jane Wanjiru Mbuthia, was a close associate of the Governor of Murangá County. Consequently, the Governor and his wife benefitted directly from the contract amounts paid to Top Image Media Consultants Limited."

EACC noted that Top Image directly remitted part of the funds to Wa Iria and his wife while adding that Value View Limited, a company belonging to Wa Iria's wife, also received part of the alleged loot.

Top image also allegedly made a payment of Ksh.500,000,000 to the Mwangi Wa Iria Foundation, which is co-owned by the Governor and his wife.

According to the anti-graft commission, the company likewise brought the two frozen properties for the then Murang'a county boss' spouse.

In total, EACC believes that Wa Iria and his wife received over Ksh.28 million from Top Image Media Consultants.

"The Commission also established that Top Image Media Consultants and its Director also made payments for loans on behalf of the Governor as well as flight expenses and hotel accommodation costs," said EACC.

"The Commission also seeks to recover a deposit of Ksh.9.5 million that had been paid to Mlima Kenya Holiday Homes to purchase holiday homes for the Governor’s wife Jane Waigwe Kimani and Jane Wanjiru Mbuthia, Director of Top Image Media Consultants."