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Governor Wavinya Ndeti’s brother, co director of Sollenti Inter’l charged with Sh 387M tax fraud

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Governor Wavinya Ndeti’s brother, co director of Sollenti Inter’l charged with Sh 387M tax fraud

A brother to Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has been charged with tax fraud of over Sh 387 million.

Vincent Somba Ndeti is charged alongside Hellen Mueni Ndeti  and Sollenti International Limited (both directors of the company) with reducing their tax liability from the year 2019 to 2023.

The three are accused of knowingly and unlawfully making an incorrect statement in their income tax returns for the year of income 2019 by claiming fictitious purchases of Sh 2,090,960 thereby reducing their income tax liability by Sh 782,586.

It is alleged that the offense was committed on or before 30th June 2020 at unknown place within the Republic of Kenya, being the directors of Sollenti International Limited, jointly with others not before court.

The accused persons are also accused of knowingly and unlawfully making an incorrect statement in their Value Added Tax returns for the period 2019 by claiming fictitious purchases of Sh 3,074,760 thereby reducing their VAT liability by Sh 491,962.

In addition, the suspects are accused of knowingly and unlawfully making an incorrect statement in their income tax returns for the year of income 2020 by under declaring income of Sh 2,451,562 and claiming fictitious purchases of Sh 220,186,512 thereby reducing their income tax liability by Sh 55,702,119.

Other charges include knowingly and unlawfully making an incorrect statement in their Value Added Tax returns for the period 2020 by under declaring income of Sh 2,451,562 and claiming fictitious purchases of Sh 319,352,512 thereby reducing your VAT liability by Sh 51,488,652.

According to the charge sheet, the directors also knowingly and unlawfully made an incorrect statement in their income tax returns for the year of income 2021 by under declaring income of Sh 52,927,615 and claiming fictitious purchases of Kshs 345,923,639 thereby reducing your income tax liability by Sh 119,669,399.

The accused persons are also accused knowingly and unlawfully making an incorrect statement in their Value Added Tax returns for the period 2021 by under declaring income of Sh 52,927,549 and claiming fictitious purchases of Sh 476,842,239 thereby reducing their VAT liability by Sh 84,763,166.

More charges are knowingly and unlawfully making an incorrect statement in your income tax returns for the year of income 2022 by claiming fictitious purchases of Sh 125,885,230 thereby reducing your income tax liability by Sh 37,774,932 and under declaring income by Sh 6,938,134 and claiming fictitious purchases of Sh 222,546,380 thereby reducing their VAT liability by Sh 36,717,522.

The accused persons denied the charges before Senior Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo and were released on a cash bail of Sh 500,000 each.

The case will be mentioned on 9th April for pre-trial.

Two KDF officers, four others detained over robbery attempt on KDF Major General George Okumu

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Two KDF officers, four others detained over robbery attempt on KDF Major General George Okumu

Six people suspected to be behind a robbery with violence incident involving Major General George Okumu will remain in custody pending conclusion of investigations.

The suspects are Charles Kiio Matata, David Ng’aa Mwangangi, Samuell Agango Odongo, Alex Mumo Kisilu, Richard Mwania Muasya and Stella Nzuki Mweni.

Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai ordered the suspects to remain in custody until 7th April 2026.

The respondents were all arrested in Kitengela near the residence of the Major General where they had hatched a plan to commit a felony namely theft by breaking into his house.

Matata is a serving KDF officer at Kahawa Garrison, Mwangangi is a civilian KDF employee working as a mechanic at Kahawa Barracks, Odongo is a KDF officer on interdiction while the rest are civilians.

According to an affidavit by Inspector George Karanja, a search was conducted inside the two vehicles in which the suspects were arrested.

Upon the search, police found, assorted KDF jungle uniform inside a brown bag, a military boots, crowbar, USA Saber knife, clow hammer, pliers, Ty-rap seal and assorted mobile phones.

IP Karanja told the court that the investigators need time to search the residences of each respondent in a view to recover a suspected firearm believed to be in their possession or their accomplices’.

The court heard that since the person targeted is a senior military officer, it is imperative to conduct parallel investigations, which will touch on key institutions or military department and will require a detailed investigations that may take a considerable time.

The investigating officer further stated that if released at this stage, the respondents may commit other offences, including but not limited to interfering with witnesses, abscond or tamper with evidence.

Two charged with threatening to kill fellow reveller at Taal Club, Westlands

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Two charged with threatening to kill fellow reveller at Taal Club, Westlands

Two men have been charged with threatening to kill a fellow reveller at Taal Club in Westlands, Nairobi.

Rahiel Daud and Hitesh Motwani alias Vicky are accused of threatening to kill one Arya Anuj on 25th March 2026, without lawful excuse.

The two are also charged with assaulting the complainant, thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm.

Daud and Motwani denied the charges before Principal Magistrate Zainab Abdul.

Their lawyer Steve Ogolla had opposed plea taking on grounds that the police had kidnapped his clients from Parklands police station and abruptly arraigned them in court without his knowledge.

“I left Parklands police station at around 12pm but I was called at 2pm that my clients had gone missing,” the lawyer stated.

Ogolla added that his clients had not recorded any statements at Parklands police station neither had they been processed before the sudden court appearance.

However, the prosecution opposed the application to defer plea on grounds that the charge before court was prepared in compliance with article 157 of the constitution.

The court also heard there is another case touching on the suspects before court on malicious damage to properties.

“Until the other files/complainants are consolidated or placed before us, then the ODPP is not in a position to address any other file other that what is before court,” the prosecutor Ms Mwangi said.

The magistrate ruled that the decision to charge a suspect lies with the Direcor of Public Prosecution.

According to the magistrate, since a file has to be forwaded to the DPP who then registers it the system as well as the judiciary case tracking system, this means that the DPP has seen the file and made decision to charge.

On the issue of their release on bond, the magistrate ruled that the offense of threatening to kill is serious and carries a heavy penalty.

The magistrate ordered a prebail report on the accused persons before granting them bond/bail.

The ruling on bail will be delivered on 30th March 2025. In the meantime, the two will be remanded at Parklands police station.

Petition filed in Nairobi challenging COTU 2026 elections

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Petition filed in Nairobi challenging COTU 2026 elections

A petition had been filed at the High Court in Nairobi challenging the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K) 2026 elections that saw the re-election of Francis Atwoli as the Secretary General.

The petitioner, Francis Awino wants the court to suspend the implementation of the election outcome and restrain Atwoli from acting or continuing to discharge the functions of Secretary General pending the hearing and determination of the case.

Awino also wants the court to preserve the status quo prior to the elections and to bar affiliated trade unions from remitting financial contributions to COTU until issues of accountability are addressed.

In addition, the petitioner wants the court to compel the disclosure of critical documents, including audited financial statements from 2021 to 2024, membership registers used in the elections, election notices and timetables, delegate accreditation records and compliance reports related to the electoral process.

Awino argues that key financial and electoral information was withheld despite formal requests, denying stakeholders the opportunity to meaningfully participate in or scrutinize the process.

“This undermined transparency, accountability and democratic governance within the labour movement,” the petitioner stated.

The petitioner claims that the process leading to Atwoli’s continued leadership was opaque, unregulated and in violation of both the Constitution and the Labour Relations Act.

Awino maintains that the matter raises fundamental constitutional concerns, including the right to access information, fair administrative action and fair labour practices. He adds that the case carries significant public interest given COTU’s role in representing millions of Kenyan workers and influencing national labour policy.

According to Owino, once the officials assume office, the petition risks being overtaken by events, potentially entrenching an unlawful leadership structure within the country’s main labour federation.

Ann Kanake, the Registrar of Trade Unions has been named as the respondent while the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and COTU are the interested parties.

 

Blow for ARA as court of appeal dismisses application seeking to stop release of Sonko’s Sh 537M

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Blow for ARA as court of appeal dismisses application seeking to stop release of Sonko’s Sh 537M

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko can now access his millions after the Court of Appeal dismissed an application by the Asset Recovery Agency seeking to block release of the funds.

Judges Kathurima M’inoti, Chacha Mwita, and Bryam Ongaya ruled that the application by ARA seeking stay of execution of a High Court judgement that cleared sonko had no merit.

“To the extent that the applicant seeks an order of stay of execution against a judgment dismissing its suit, the Court cannot issue such an order. Accordingly, the applicant’s notice of motion dated 22nd January 2026 has no merit and is hereby dismissed with costs to the respondent,” the judges ordered.

On 1st October 2025, the High Court dismissed the suit by the agency seeking to have the money forfeited to the State on grounds that the same was proceeds of crime.

Justice Nixon Sifuna ruled that there was no sufficient evidence to support the assertion that the funds flagged by ARA are proceeds of crime.

“There is, therefore, no legal basis for ordering forfeiture of the said funds to the Kenyan government as proceeds of crime. In consequence, the suit fails and is hereby dismissed with costs,” Justice Sifuna ruled.

Sonko’s lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui had argued that the funds in question were legitimate and not in any way proceeds of crime.

Warrant of arrest issued against suspect in Sh 49M house purchase fraud, co-accused to plead next week

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Warrant of arrest issued against suspect in Sh 49M house purchase fraud, co-accused to plead next week

A warrant of arrest has been issued against one of the suspects in Sh 49 million fraud involving a house purchase in Nairobi.

Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai issued the warrant against Erick Ochieng Ouko after failing to appear in court to plead to the charges.

The court also issued summons to Ouko’s co-accused person, James Okune Okutoyi to appear in court on 31st March 2026 to plead to the charges.

This is after Okutoyi’s lawyer informed the court that his client was unwell having undergone surgery recently, unable to appear in court physically.

The duo is accused of obtaining Sh 49,381,969 from Esther Mutinda Sigilai by falsely pretending that they were in a position to sell to her a residential home in a parcel of land NAIROBI/5842/13, a fact they knew to be false.

According to the charge sheet, the offense was committed on  diverse dates between 22nd May and 25th October, 2024 at unknown place within Nairobi County, with intent to defraud.

Okutoyi is facing five other charges of forgery and four counts of uttering forged documents.

The court heard that on 1st of July 2024 at an unknown place within the Republic of Kenya, with intent to defraud, he forged a certificate of sale, purporting it to be a genuine document issued by Westminster Commercial Auctioneers, a fact he knew to be false.

The accused person is also said to have forged a sales agreement, purporting it to be a genuine document issued by Kingdom Bank.

Other forged documents include an official receipt from Westminster, a valuation report from Kenstate Valuers Limited  and a title deed for the said property.

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