A herbalist from Machakos county has been charged before a Nairobi court for conning a businessman Ksh1.7 million in a fake snake venom tender.
Appearing before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina, Nicholas Ndunda Kilungya denied one charge of conspiracy to defraud the complainant Felix Munyao Kikanga of Ksh1,731,800 between February 5 and March 2 this year.
The court heard that "on diverse dates between February 5, and March 1, 2023, within Nairobi court, jointly with others not before the court, conspired to defraud Munyao Ksh1,731,800 by falsely pretending he had a tender for supplying anti-snake venom for export to South Sudan."
According to the prosecution, the suspect is a member of a syndicate based in Ukambani which has specialized in conning people pretending to be able to supply anti-snake venom to various parts of the world.
State prosecutor Anderson Gikunda informed the court that police are also seeking Ndunda's co-accused, who are still at large.
The prosecution claims that the fake snake venom syndicate has conned unsuspecting members of the public of their hard-earned money running into millions.
After denying the charges, Ndunda urged the court to free him on reasonable bail terms pending trial, saying he is a physician and the sole breadwinner of his family.
Magistrate Onyina released the accused person on a bond of Ksh300,000 with an alternative cash bail of Ksh200,000.
