Harrison Nyende Mumia, 47, who has been in custody for 20 days at Industrial Area Remand Prison made the new demands yesterday when he appeared before Milimani Magistrate Rose Ndombi.

Through his legal team led by lawyer Lempaa Soyianka, Mumia argues that since President Ruto is the main complainant in the matter, the court should compel him to provide a witness statement and testify in the case.

Soyianka further told the court that the defence cannot proceed with the hearing until the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions supplies President Ruto’s witness statement, urging the court to delay fixing a hearing date until the document is availed.

“We cannot meaningfully proceed with this matter without the complainant’s statement, and since the President is the main complainant, we urge the court to compel him to record and supply his witness statement before any hearing date is fixed. He should also be compelled to be called as witness in case,” Soyianka told the court.

The defense team also urged the court for a reduction of bail from Sh 500,000 imposed on Mumia to SH 50,000 claiming the accused is unable to raise the current bail terms.

Mumia’s lawyer Abner Mango told the court that his client has been languishing in custody since his initial appearance before Chief Magistrate Dolphina Alego on January 5, 2026, when he was granted SH 500,000 cash bail or a Sh 1 million bond with surrender of his passport.

“Your honor, the accused appeared before Alego on January 5. Your honour he was released on punitive bail terms of Sh 500,000 cash bail and a bond of a Sh 1 Million with a surrender of his passport. He has not been able to raise the same and he remains incarcerated at Industrial area,” Mango submitted.

The defense is now seeking a drastic reduction of the bail terms from to Sh 50,000 an amount they say the family can afford.

Making his case for bail reduction, Mango argued that Mumia poses no flight risk, pointing out that police knew exactly where to find him when they conducted a raid at his Kangundo Road residence.

“Your honor the accused is not a flight risk he was arrested when the DCI raided his home in Kangundo road so the residence is well known by the IO. He is a respected person in this country and has no where to go. He will be attending this court when required,” Mango told the court.

The defense lawyer further challenged the very foundation of the charges, revealing that the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act is currently under challenge at the Court of Appeal.

“Your honour the offences the accused is charged with computer misuse… the act is under challenge at the court of appeal. Your honour let it not escape the court that the charges against him are political,” Mango argued.

He pleaded with the court not to punish Mumia before he has been found guilty.

“Your honour is in that basis that we pray the accused is granted affordable bail terms so that he is not punished before a court of law finds him guilty. Your honour while incarcerated has been put in risk,” Mango submitted.

The prosecution, however, rejected the defense’s arguments, insisting that bail had already been granted and the accused’s inability to meet the terms was not the state’s responsibility.

“Your honour let it be known that bail was not denied it was granted. Failure for one to raise the bail can not be pinned against the prosecution,” the prosecution stated.

The state further pointed to inconsistencies in the defense’s position, citing an affidavit that indicated the real problem was the inability to locate Mumia’s ID and passport, not lack of funds.

“Your honour have been served with affidavit where indicate that sole issue that is hindering them is that they could not find the accused persons ID and passports. Your honour the said affidavit informs states that the visited the accused person in preparation to raise bail. They didn’t state they are unable to raise the amount but they say they couldn’t get his ID and passport,” the prosecution argued.

Magistrate Ndombi ordered that a pre-bail report be filed before making any orders on the reduction of bail. The court has detained Mumia until Thursday, when it will deliver its ruling on whether to reduce the Sh1 million bail terms.

In the case, Mumia faces four counts under Section 22(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act No. 5 of 2018, all related to posts allegedly made on December 30, 2025.

According to the charge sheet, Mumia is alleged to have used a pseudo Facebook account under the name Robinson Kipruto Ngetich to publish images of President Ruto lying on a bed and falsely portraying him as deceased.

Another image allegedly depicted the President on a hospital bed in critical medical condition.

“On December 30, 2025 at an unknown place within the Republic of Kenya knowingly published false information… by posting an image of President William Ruto lying on a bed and falsely portraying him as deceased, information you knew to be false,” the charge sheet reads in part.

He is also accused of publishing similar false images on his Instagram account, @harrisonmumia, showing the President lying on a bed in critical medical condition, falsely suggesting severe illness or death.

Making his case for bail reduction, Mango argued that Mumia poses no flight risk, pointing out that police knew exactly where to find him when they conducted a raid at his Kangundo Road residence.

The post Fresh Twist as Atheist President Mumia Demands President Ruto Testify in Fake Posts Case appeared first on Insider Bits News.

In Civil Casefiled at the High Court in Milimani, Lenaola, through his lawyers Ngeri, Omiti & Bush Advocates LLP, is seeking urgent injunction orders to restrain Muigai from “publishing, circulating or causing to be published any further defamatory statements” against him.

In court papers seen by this reporter, the judge said Muigai had, in a series of widely circulated video interviews on September 8, September 12, and September 25, 2025, made scandalous allegations that were “false, reckless, malicious and calculated to injure” his personal and professional reputation.

“The Respondent maliciously alleged without any justification that I, together with other Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, was involved in corruption dealings in suits concerning his properties,” Lenaola stated in his sworn affidavit.

The judge further accused Muigai of going as far as linking him and his colleagues to the death of lawyer Kyalo Mbobu, who previously represented Muigai.

“On or about 12th September 2025, the Respondent made further allegations insinuating recklessly that I and other Justices were involved in the death of his Advocate, the late Mr. Kyalo Mbobu, allegedly as a result of his so-called ‘corruption exposé’,” Lenaola’s affidavit reads.

The disputed interviews were first aired on Digee (DG) Media’s YouTube and TikTok platforms, before being reposted on other digital outlets such as Mutembei TV, NewsLife TV, Superior Media KE, Balindiway Media, and Digital Nation.

As of the filing date, one of the TikTok videos had attracted 6,309 likes, 582 comments, 796 saves, and 1,724 reposts, according to the pleadings.

Lenaola argues that the wide circulation has fueled public misconceptions, lowering his standing among “right-thinking members of society” and undermining the integrity of the Judiciary, which “depends heavily on public trust.”

On September 16, 2025, Lenaola’s lawyers issued a formal demand notice to Muigai, instructing him to retract the claims.

However, Muigai allegedly refused, and instead “dared the Applicant to sue him.”

In one of his later videos on September 25, Muigai is said to have admitted granting similar interviews to mainstream media, including Nation Media Group, “with the malicious intent of further spreading his defamatory and unsubstantiated statements.”

Lenaola now seeks urgent court orders to compel Muigai to delete all defamatory videos, retract his remarks, and cease further publication pending full hearing of the case.

His lawyers argue:“It is in the public interest that the Respondent be restrained forthwith, as the Applicant, being a senior member of the Judiciary, requires protection from continued peddling of falsehoods. The actions of the Respondent are ill-intended and orchestrated to besmirch the reputation of the Applicant, unless this Honourable Court intervenes.”

The judge is seeking various orders inccluding,a temporary and permanent injunction barring Muigai from publishing any further defamatory statements.
” The court should issue an order compelling Muigai to retract and delete all defamatory posts and videos,” Lenaola seeks.

Justice Lenaola, who has also served in various regional and international judicial roles, emphasized his constitutional right to a good name under Articles 31 and 33(3) of the Constitution of Kenya (2010).

“Like every other Kenyan, I am entitled to my good name and the esteem in which I am held by others. By virtue of my distinguished position both locally and internationally, my reputation should not be disparaged by defamatory statements made without lawful justification,” he stated.

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While testifying before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego, Mr. Deepak Rajoria, now a director at Oki Trading Kenya Limited, detailed how the accused, Honey Khatwani, systematically misappropriated company funds over a four-year period.

“I was an employee of the mother company based in Dubai, and when I came to Kenya, I was appointed as a director of the company,” Rajoria told the court.

He said he joined the company’s Kenya office in January 2024 and soon discovered significant financial irregularities, including missing documents and unexplained gaps in the accounts.

Rajoria identified Khatwani as a former director of Oki Trading who held that position until July 2024.

He told the court that upon noticing discrepancies, the company engaged auditors to investigate the matter.

The audit report revealed that between 2021 and 2024, the company had lost approximately Ksh 356,711,806.

“We noticed funds and important documents were missing. When we brought in an auditor, it was concluded that over Ksh 356 million had been lost during the period from 2021 to 2024,” said Rajoria.

According to the testimony, Khatwani, an Indian national, is accused of diverting company funds to facilitate the operations of Galaxy Middle East Africa Limited, a business he registered jointly with another former employee, shortly before resigning from Oki Trading.

The court heard that some company funds and client cheques were allegedly deposited directly into Khatwani’s personal account, as well as M-Pesa accounts belonging to him and his wife.

It was further alleged that Khatwani generated fake invoices, manipulating the amounts received from clients and under-declaring actual payments made to the company.

The prosecution has charged him with stealing USD 2,786,174.40 (approximately Ksh 356,711,806), money that came into his possession by virtue of his position at Oki Trading Kenya Limited.

The alleged offences took place between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2024, at the company’s offices located in Barbado area, Nairobi County.

The court also heard that the stolen funds originally belonged to OKI General Trading Limited, the parent company based in Dubai.

The matter has been adjourned and is set to continue on September 26, 2025.

The post Director Tells Court How Ex-Colleague Stole Ksh 356 Million Before Quitting to Start Own Firm appeared first on Insider Bits News.

Appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate , Governor Barchok and Evans Kipng’eno Korir a director of Chemasus Construction Limited, pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

According to the charge sheet, the governor is accused of receiving Sh2 million from a private contractor as a kickback linked to fraudulent procurement deals.

The funds, investigators allege, were disguised through intermediaries and used to facilitate the acquisition of property in Barchok’s name, an act said to violate provisions of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA).

The charges include conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of public property, and handling proceeds of crime, all allegedly committed while Barchok was in office as the county’s chief executive.

Through his legal team led by senior counsel Issa Mansur, Governor Barchok urged the court to consider releasing him on a free bond, insisting that he is a law-abiding citizen willing to fully cooperate with the court.

“My client is ready to abide by all court directives. He has no intention of interfering with witnesses or obstructing the judicial process in any way,” Mansur told the court, further arguing that the charges were “not unusual” for individuals in political office and did not warrant custodial conditions.

The prosecution, led by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Vincent Monda, did not oppose the release of Governor Barchok and his co-accused on bail.

However, he asked the court to impose strict conditions given the nature and seriousness of the charges.

Monda submitted that, upon release: “They should not leave the jurisdiction of the court without the permission of the Trial Court.”

He also asked the court to bar the accused persons from contacting or interfering with prosecution witnesses, either directly or through their proxies:

“Upon service of the evidentiary material by the prosecution, they should not contact or interfere in any way, either by themselves or through their proxies, with the prosecution witnesses.”

Furthermore, Monda requested that:“If any of the accused persons hold a passport, the same should be deposited in court, and they must seek the court’s permission should they wish to travel outside the country.”

He concluded by asking the court to caution the accused against making any public or indirect comments that could compromise the integrity of the case:

“They should not make any comments, either by themselves or through their proxies, in order to preserve the integrity of this case.”

The bail hearing is currently ongoing.

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Steve Okoth Odek and Orao Shikalo, also known as Vincent Oloa Wanton, appeared before Milimani Principal Magistrate Caroline Mugo, where they denied two charges—conspiracy to commit a felony and obtaining money by false pretenses.

According to the charge sheet, the duo, alongside others not before the court, allegedly conspired between February 1 and August 2, 2024, to defraud Asianic Limited by falsely claiming they could supply 580 kg of gold.

“On diverse dates between February 1, 2024, and August 2, 2024, within Nairobi County, you jointly conspired to commit a felony—namely stealing USD 265,200, by falsely pretending you were in a position to sell 580 kilograms of gold,” read part of the charge sheet.

In the second count, the prosecution alleged that between the same dates, Odek and Shikalo continued to obtain the said amount under false pretenses by misrepresenting their ability to sell the gold.

Seeking lenient bail terms, Shikalo told the court he was unemployed and the sole caregiver to his ailing mother.

The court, however, ordered that both accused remain out on their previous cash bail terms, Sh100,000 for Odek and Sh80,000 for Shikalo, until the case is mentioned on September 2 for further directions.

The post Two Businessmen Charged Afresh in Sh38 Million Fake Gold Scam appeared first on Insider Bits News.

Taking the stand at the Milimani High Court, Angelica Muthoni, a long-time cleaner for businesswoman Jane Wairimu Mutungi, told Justice Alexander Muteti that she interacted briefly with a man, identified as Matara, on January 3, 2024, around 5:30 p.m. outside Papino Apartments, Room Y32.

“My boss Jane Wairimu Mutungi sent me to collect money from a guest. When I knocked, a man opened the door. I told him I had come to collect Sh 3,200. He handed me the cash,” Muthoni testified.

While being read in evidence in chief by State Prosecutor Mercy Njoroge, the cleaner said she did not enter the apartment and spoke with the man at the door.

“He was dark, had slightly long hair, and was tall. I had never seen him before. He gave me the money using his right hand. I did not notice any blood or injuries on him.”

According to Muthoni, the man also asked about the WiFi password and said he wanted to check out at 12 p.m. the following day, but she reminded him that the checkout time was 10 a.m. She later confirmed to the court that the man she met that evening is the same person currently on trial.

“The person in the dock is the same person I met that day at Room Y32,” she stated firmly.

Hours after that interaction, Starlet Wahu’s body was discovered inside the apartment with signs of a violent struggle.

Under questioning from Matara’s lawyer, Samuel Ayor, Muthoni added that she did not witness any commotion at the time she visited, nor could she tell how many people were inside the apartment.

“I didn’t see or hear anything suspicious. I did not see Matara leave the apartment later that night in a towel soaked in blood, as claimed.”

Muthoni also said she recorded a statement at Makadara Police Station following the incident.

She has worked with Wairimu since 2022, helping clean her Airbnb properties and also works at her salon located in Sanasana, South B.

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