Former Murang'a Governor Mwangi wa Iria has been remanded at Industrial Area Prison after failing to raise bail.
Wa Iria pleaded not guilty to various corruption charges including abuse of office, conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of public property and money laundering.
Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki released wa Iria on a bond of Ksh20 million and an alternative cash bail of Ksh10 million
EACC confirmed that he had been detained, moments after the court released him on bail.
"Former Murang'a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria has been remanded at Industrial Area Prison after pleading not guilty to various corruption charges including abuse of office, conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of public property and money laundering. Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki released Wa Iria on a bond of Kes. 20 million and an alternative cash bail of Kes.10 million which the accused person did not manage to raise," EACC said.
Wa Iria, his wife Jane Waigwe Kimani, brother-in-law Solomon Mutura, personal assistant Peter Muturi Karanja and others are facing charges relating to tenders for media and publicity which EACC says were irregularly awarded to a company linked to them known as Top Image Consultants at a cost of Ksh562 million during the Financial Years 2014/2015 and 2015/2016.
"The Directors of this company are Jane Wanjiru Mbuthia and David Maina Njeri who are close associates of the former Governor. Mwangi wa Iria and his wife directly benefited from the Ksh562 million paid by Murang'a County Government to Top Image Media Consultants Limited, whose directors are Jane Wanjiru Mbuthia and David Maina Njeri," EACC added.
"Part of the money was sent to Mwangi wa Iria Foundation and another part used to settle Wairia’s loan at CFC Stanbic Bank. In addition, Jane Waigwe Kimani (wife to Mwangi wa Iria) and Solomon Mutura (brother to Jane Waigwe) are the directors of Value View Limited which benefited from funds paid to Top Image Media Consultant through purchase of prime land in Nairobi and Mweiga and two (2) Holiday Homes in Nanyuki."
Wa Iria dealt a blow
The former governor was arraigned after Justice Nixon Sifuna of Milimani Anti-Corruption High Court on Monday, April 29, 2024, declined to extend orders suspending their prosecution and ordered wa Iria, his wife Jane Waigwe Kimani and her brother Solomon Mutura Kimani to surrender to EACC on Monday evening for processing ahead of plea-taking on Tuesday at 9 am.
The new turn of events came after the High Court in Murang'a had issued temporary orders stopping their charging in court.
But those orders were vacated by Muranga Presiding Judge James Wakiaga who subsequently transferred the matter to the Nairobi High Court Anti-corruption Division for further directions.
