Former Muranga Governor Mwangi wa Iria has been granted a cash bail of Sh 10 million.
This is after Wa Irira and two of his co-accused persons David Maina Njeri and Solomon Mutura Kimani pleaded not guilty to several charges of corruption.
The former county boss and the two directors are accused of conspiring to commit an offense of corruption, to wit, fraud in respect to an unlawful contract for the provision of media buying services awarded to the two directors by Muranga County government amounting to Sh 351, 097,401.15
It is alleged that the trio committed the offense between 21st of October 2014 and 19th June 2017 in Muranga County being the Governor of Muraga County, Director of Top Image Media Consultants and Value View Limited respectively.
The former governor is also accused of conflict of interest after allegedly acquiring a direct private interest in the contracts between Murang’a County Government and Top Image Media Consultants Limited for the provision of media buying services and received Sh 31, 829,800 from Top Image.
The three are further charged with money laundering. The court heard that the politician and the two directors entered into an arrangement for the transfer of Sh 3.7 towards the purchase of 13 acres piece of land.
The said money was allegedly paid unlawfully by the county government of Murang’a to Top Image Media Consultants whose effect was disguise the source of the said money whilst they jointly and severally ought to have reasonably known that the same formed part of proceeds of crime.
The court also heard that the three entered into an arrangement for the transfer of Sh 4.5 million towards the purchase of two houses (Batian 4 and Nellion 88) through Mlima Kenya homes on account of money unlawfully paid by the county government of Murang’a to Top Image to disguise the said funds.
They all denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki.
The directors were granted cash bail of Sh 1 million and Sh 4 million respectively.
In the alternative, the three were granted bonds of Sh 20 million, Sh 5 million and Sh 7 million respectively.
Other accused persons in the case are Patrick Kagumo Mukuria, Jane Wanjiru Mbuthia, David Maina Kiama, Jane Waigwe Kimani and Peter Muturi Karanja.
David Kiama and Jane Kimani are the only ones who have not pleaded to the charges on grounds that one is unwell and the other one out of Kenya.
They were directed to appear in court on 7th May to answer tp the charges
