The wife of former Murang’a governor Mwangi Wa Iria Jane Waigwe Kimani and her brother Solomon Mutura Kimani were on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, arraigned in a Nairobi court over corruption allegations involving some Sh140 million.
Waigwe and her brother Mutura appeared before the Milimani anti-corruption court to plead to the charges after their arrest on Tuesday by detectives from the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Also, to be charged is the former governor, alongside other co-accused persons, whom EACC says failed to honour summons to appear before the commission to answer to the corruption charges.
“The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) pursuing the other six suspects, including the former governor, who failed to honour summons to appear before it on Wednesday, 8am,” EACC said in a statement on Wednesday.
Iria, his wife and the other co-accused persons are said to have been involved in illegal procurement processes during his reign as Murang’a governor, leading to the loss of about Sh140 million.
The crimes, EACC says, are alleged to have been committed between 2014 and 2016.
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Waigwe and her brother Mutura are said to be the directors of Value View Ltd, one of the companies used as a conduit in the fraudulent scheme.
“EACC received a complaint in regard to allegations of procurement irregularities and conflict of interest in the award of publicity tenders by the county government of Murang’a to M/s. Top Image Media Consultancy Ltd at a cost of Ksh140,000,000 during the Financial Year 2014/2015 and 2015/2016,” EACC said.
“Upon conclusion of the investigations, EACC submitted the investigation report to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who upon independent review concurred with the Commission’s recommendation to charge the following officers.”
Also, to be charged together with the governor are Patrick Kagumu Mukuda (former county secretary), David Maina Kiama (Director, M/s. Top Image Media Consultancy Ltd), David Maina Njeri (Director, M/s. Top Image Media Consultancy Ltd), Jane Waigwe Kimani (Director, M/s. Value View Ltd) and Peter Muturi Karanja, a personnel assistant to wa Iria.
EACC intends for wa Iria and his co-accused to be charged with the offence of corruption, abuse of office and unlawful acquisition of public property.
The anti-corruption commission also intends for them charged with the charges of conflict of interest, dealing with suspect property and money laundering offences.
“The commission hereby directs all the above-named persons to report to EACC Headquarters located at the Integrity Centre Building, or the nearest EACC regional office, by Tuesday, 16 April 2024, 8:000 am, without fail,” EACC added.
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