Properties worth millions of shillings associated with Muranga Governor Mwangi Wa Iria believed to be proceeds of corruption have been frozen.
The two properties in Nairobi and Nyeri linked to Wa Iria and his spouse and associates, pending determination of a petition for the properties to be forfeited to the government.
The High Court Judge, Justice Esther Maina, ordered the freezing of a 13-acre parcel in Mweiga, Nyeri County and another parcel in Nairobi’s Umoja Inner core.
The Ethics and anti-Corruption Commission told the court that Wa Iria and his family received kickbacks from a contract worth Sh542 million, which the commission believes was awarded irregularly.
In the court case, EACC says Wa Iria influenced the award of Sh542,610,615 media buying tender to Top Image Media Consultants Ltd a firm the detectives say is owned by the governor’s relatives and associates.
One Jane Mbuthia is listed as the director of the firm.
“It was alleged that Top Image Media Consultants Ltd, a company owned by Wa Iria’s associates/relatives had been irregularly awarded various media buying tenders in the county government of Murang’a between the financial years 2014/2015 and 2016/2017 and received a sum of Sh542 million.
An investigator with EACC said they have been investigating allegations of corruption, breach of procurement laws and conflict of interest in the award of tenders by the county government.
The EACC further said the company is owned by Wa Iria’s associates who would subsequently transfer the funds received from the county government to him directly and indirectly through another company known as Value View Ltd.
Top Image later purchased the two properties on behalf of Value View in Umoja in Nairobi and 13 acres in Nyeri County. His spouse is a director of Value View ltd, according to EACC.
The property in Umoja was purchased for Sh7.5 million in September 2014 and was paid in full by Top Image, while the Nyeri land was purchased for Sh8.8 million in January 2015 on behalf of Value View.
Court documents further state that Top Image also paid Sh9.5 million for another property but the deal did not go through and the money is still being held by Mlima Kenya Holiday Homes. In the said court case, Wa Iria allegedly paid Sh3.8 million for the breach of contract.
The Murang’a county government tender committee also told EACC, in the court documents, that it did not approve the awarding of the controversial tender.
“Those preliminary investigations have also revealed that the 1st respondent (Wa Iria) has also been in direct and indirect receipt of substantial sums of money from the 2nd respondent during the time that he has been governor of Murang’a County,” EACC said.
The court heard that the governor or his companies might dispose of the property defeating the case.
Last year, Wa Iria accused EACC of witch-hunt in the probe and denied owning the frozen properties.
The Governor says he has no basis involving himself in the procurement of media services within Murang’a County, which is the subject of the investigations as it is the function of the county’s procurement department.
In 2016 EACC detectives raided his house but the operations turned chaotic with investigators claiming they were assaulted by the governor’s supporters.