Former Murang’a governor Mwangi Wa Iria and eight others have been charged afresh over alleged corruption, money laundering, and the loss of KSh351 million in county funds.
Former Murang’a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria is back before an anti-corruption court, facing a fresh set of charges over a controversial media contract that prosecutors say cost the county government more than KSh351 million.
Wa Iria appeared before Milimani Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Harrison Barasa on Tuesday, September 1, alongside eight other accused persons after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) amended the charges in the long-running case.
The former governor, Jane Wanjiru Mbuthia; David Maina Kiama; David Maina Njeri; Jane Waigwe Kimani; Solomon Mutura Kimani; Peter Muturi Karanja; Top Image Media Consultants and Value View Limited all denied the charges.
The KSh351 Million Deal
The prosecution alleges that the offences were committed between October 21, 2014, and June 19, 2017, during Wa Iria’s tenure as Murang’a governor.
At the heart of the case is a media-buying contract awarded by the Murang’a County Government to Top Image Media Consultants Limited.
The DPP alleges that Wa Iria, directors of the two companies, and the governor’s personal assistant conspired to commit a corruption offence through fraud relating to the contract.
According to the prosecution, the alleged scheme resulted in the loss of public property valued at KSh351,097,491.15.
The staggering figure places the disputed media contract at the centre of a case that could expose how public procurement was allegedly handled during Wa Iria’s administration.
Five More Counts
The accused persons are facing five additional counts touching on money laundering, unlawful acquisition of public property, conflict of interest, and dealing with suspect property.
The charges have been brought under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act and the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Prosecutors contend that the transactions surrounding the media-buying contract involved corrupt conduct and public funds allegedly acquired unlawfully.
But the accused persons have denied wrongdoing, setting the stage for a legal battle over the prosecution’s evidence and the circumstances surrounding the award and execution of the contract.
Fresh Charges Approved
The fresh charges followed an application by the DPP to amend the original charge sheet.
Chief Magistrate Barasa allowed the amendments after ruling that they were within the law.
The prosecution was represented by Susan Keli, Jeremiah Walusala, Boris Atuti, and Belinda Nakhanu.
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The matter will return before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on September 17, 2026, when it is scheduled for mention.
For Wa Iria, the fresh charges revive a politically and financially significant corruption case centred on his years at the helm of Murang’a County.
The former governor served as Murang’a County’s first governor from 2013 until 2022.
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