Former Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria and six other individuals have been charged afresh at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court in a case involving alleged loss of KSh351.1 million from the Murang’a County Government. The fresh proceedings followed an amendment of the charge sheet by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). Chief Magistrate Harrison Barasa allowed the prosecution to amend the charges after ruling that the changes were within the law. Wa Iria appeared in court alongside 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 are also listed as accused entities in the case.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the amended charges.
The case relates to a media-buying contract awarded by the Murang’a County Government to Top Image Media Consultants Limited during Wa Iria’s tenure as governor. According to the prosecution, the alleged transactions between October 21, 2014, and June 19, 2017, resulted in the loss of KSh351,097,491.15 in public funds. The prosecution alleges that Wa Iria and other accused persons conspired to commit a corruption offence in connection with the contract. Wa Iria also faces a conflict-of-interest allegation. Prosecutors allege that he acquired a direct private interest in contracts between the county government and Top Image Media Consultants and received KSh31.8 million from the company during the period under investigation.
The amended charge sheet also introduces allegations involving money laundering, unlawful acquisition of public property and dealing with suspected property under relevant anti-corruption and proceeds-of-crime laws. The prosecution has cited several transactions that it alleges involved proceeds connected to the county contract. Among them is an allegation that KSh7.5 million was transferred towards the purchase of property in Umoja, Nairobi, in a transaction prosecutors say was intended to disguise the alleged source of the funds.
Another count alleges that KSh4.5 million was used to purchase two houses through Mlima Kenya Homes, while a further KSh600,000 was allegedly spent on borehole blasting at a property in Mweiga, Nyeri. These are prosecution allegations and have not been established as facts by the court.
The amendment of the charge sheet is expected to affect the progress of the trial. The court was informed that at least 13 prosecution witnesses who had already testified will have to return to court to give further evidence and face additional cross-examination arising from the amended charges. The development means that parts of the proceedings will have to be revisited as the prosecution presents evidence relevant to the revised charges.
The case will next come up for mention on September 17, 2026. Wa Iria and the other accused remain presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by the court. The latest proceedings concern the amended charges and do not amount to a finding of guilt against any of the accused.