Former Governor of Murang’a, Mwangi Wa Iria, along with his wife and brother-in-law, is set to face prosecution over allegations of theft amounting to Ksh 351 million.
This decision follows the High Court Justice P.J. Otieno of Nairobi’s Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division of the rejection of Wa Iria’s plea to block the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) from pursuing charges against them.
In a ruling delivered on September 30, 2024, the court asserted that it cannot interfere with the DPP’s constitutional powers as outlined in Article 157 of the Kenyan Constitution.
The judge emphasized that the issues raised by Wa Iria and his co-petitioners are matters best suited for resolution in a trial court.
The trio is expected to face multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, money laundering, dealing with suspect property, conflict of interest, abuse of office, and unlawful acquisition of public property.
Wa Iria is among nine individuals implicated in allegations of procurement fraud occurring between 2015 and 2016 within the Murang’a County government.
In April 2024, the DPP recommended prosecution based on findings from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), which revealed that the suspects had fraudulently awarded tenders to Top Image Media Consultancy Limited and Value View Limited, overlooking conflict of interest issues.
This latest development follows a previous court decision in which the High Court froze two of Wa Iria’s properties valued at Ksh 15 million, believed to have been acquired through proceeds of crime.
