By Peter Ochieng
Former Murang’a governor Mwangi Wa Iria’s wife, Jane Waigwe Kimani on Tuesday denied corruption charges, after being presented in court to take plea.
Kimani who is the Director of Value View Limited was charged alongside David Maina Kiama, the Director of Top Image Consultants) over the Murang’a county corruption case involving Sh562 million fraudulent tenders.
Appearing before Milimani Anti-Corruption Magistrate Victor Wakhumile, the two accused persons denied all the charges.
The Court released them on a bond of Sh5 million or in the alternative a cash bail of Sh1 million. They were ordered to deposit travel documents with the court and not to leave the country without the court’s permission.
The matter will be mentioned on 14th May, 2024.
On 30th April, 2024, Mwangi Wa Iria was 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 Sh20 million and an alternative cash bail of Sh10 million which the accused person did not manage to raise.
He was set free on 3rd May, 2024, following compliance with the Anti-Corruption court’s bond terms.
He appeared in court along with his co-accused David Maina Njeri and Solomon Mutura Kimani. The matter will be mentioned on 14th May, 2024.
The charges facing Mwangi wa Iria, his wife Jane Waigwe Kimani, brother-in-law Solomon Mutura, Personal Assistant Peter Muturi Karanja and others relate to tenders for media and publicity irregularly awarded to a company linked to them known as Top Image Consultants at a cost of Sh562 million during the financial years 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. Wa Iria served as Murang’a governor for two terms, from 2013 to 2022.
Wa Iria and his wife reportedly directly benefited from the Sh562 million paid by Murang’a county government to Top Image Media Consultants Limited, whose directors are Jane Wanjiru Mbuthia and David Maina Njeri.
Part of the money was allegedly sent to Mwangi wa Iria’s foundation and another part used to settle hisloan at CFC Stanbic Bank.