Businessman Bruno Oguda Obodha, who was recently appointed by President William Ruto as the Managing Director of East Africa Portland Cement Company (EAPCC)was on Monday charged with multiple charges of forgery and fraud.
Obodha, who had been expected to take over the prestigious position at EAPCC, now finds himself embroiled in a serious legal battle.
Obodha appeared before Mavoko Senior Principal Magistrate Derick Kuto, facing six charges related to the forgery of official documents.
The charges stem from incidents in 2024, where Obodha allegedly forged and altered documents in order to defraud various parties.
Among the allegations, Obodha is accused of forging membership certificates for Blue Make International Security Company Ltd, a company he is associated with, and falsely submitting them as genuine documents to secure business deals.
He is also accused of falsifying a tender guarantee and altering a certificate of membership for the company with the intention of defrauding EAPCC.
According to the charge sheet, Obodha’s alleged fraudulent activities include falsifying documents that were purported to be from Kingdom Bank and making a fake license to establish a radio communication station.
The prosecution claims that these actions were carried out with the intent to deceive and secure unlawful advantages.
Obodha’s lawyer sought a lenient bail, but the court ruled that due to the severity of the charges, the businessman would be required to post a bond of Sh 5 million or a cash bail of Sh 2 million, with a reliable contact person to ensure his attendance in court.
The next hearing is scheduled for April 29, 2025.
The charges against Obodha come shortly after his controversial appointment to head EAPCC.
His nomination, announced by President Ruto on December 20, 2024, was swiftly contested due to concerns over fraud and a potential conflict of interest.
The EAPCC board rejected his appointment, citing his involvement in businesses linked to the company and issues related to his integrity.
The board wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Industry, Trade, and Investment, expressing concerns about Obodha’s directorship in Geoner Systems & Massel Real Property, which had been awarded a contract by EAPCC.
Additionally, the board raised alarms about the fraudulent documents submitted by Obodha’s Blue Make International Security Company Ltd in a security services tender for the company.
The board’s decision to block Obodha’s appointment, along with the mounting legal issues, has left his business career in jeopardy.
The case will be mentioned on April 29 for pre-trail directions.
