Wa Iria, six co-accused charged afresh in Sh351million corruption case
The prosecution alleges that Sh351,097,491.15 was lost by the Murang’a County Government through a media-buying contract awarded to Top Image Media Consultants Limited.Wa Iria is accused of conspiring with his co-accused to defraud the county between October 21, 2014 and June 19, 2017 in connection with the contract.
Former Murang’a Governor and chairperson of the Public Procurement Regulatory Board (PPRA)Mwangi Wa Iria and six co-accused have been charged afresh in a Sh351million corruption case after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) amended the charges against them.
The prosecution alleges that Sh351,097,491.15 was lost by the Murang’a County Government through a media-buying contract awarded to Top Image Media Consultants Limited.
Wa Iria is accused of conspiring with his co-accused to defraud the county between October 21, 2014 and June 19, 2017 in connection with the contract.
The former governor also faces a conflict-of-interest charge, with prosecutors alleging that while serving as governor, he acquired a direct private interest in contracts between the county government and Top Image Media Consultants.
Former Murang’a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria alongside Jane Wanjiru Mbuthia, David Maina Kiama, David Maina Njeri, Jane Waigwe Kimani, Solomon Mutura Kimani, Peter Muturi Karanja, Top Image Media Consultants and Value View Limited pleaded not guilty to the charges under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA) and the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (POCAMLA).
According to the prosecution, Wa Iria received Sh31.8 million from the company while he was in office.
The amended charge sheet has introduced several counts of alleged money laundering, with the prosecution seeking to trace part of the funds said to have originated from the county government to property purchases and other transactions.
In one of the alleged transactions, Sh7.5 million was reportedly channelled towards the purchase of property in Umoja, Nairobi, in a transaction prosecutors say was intended to conceal the origin of the money.
The prosecution further alleges that Sh4.5 million was used to purchase two houses through Mlima Kenya Homes, while another Sh600,000 was allegedly spent on borehole blasting at a property in Mweiga, Nyeri.
Wa Iria’s co-accused are Jane Wanjiru Mbuthia, 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 named as accused entities in the case.
All the accused have denied the allegations and will now face trial on the amended charges.
The amendments are also expected to prolong the proceedings, with the court being informed that at least 13 prosecution witnesses who had already testified will have to return to the witness stand.
The witnesses are expected to give additional evidence and undergo further cross-examination on matters arising from the amended charges.
Their recall could effectively take portions of the case back to an earlier stage, despite evidence already having been presented before the court.
The Sh351 million case revolves around allegations that public funds were irregularly paid out through the media contract, with the prosecution seeking to establish links between the disputed payments and subsequent property acquisitions and other transactions.
