Former Murang'a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria.
Assets belonging to former Murang'a Governor Mwangi wa Iria are set to go under the hammer later this month after he allegedly defaulted on an undisclosed loan, piling further pressure on the politician who is also battling a Sh542.6 million graft charge.
A residential property in Nairobi's leafy Karen suburb and a hospital in Murang'a linked to the former county boss have been advertised for sale by public auction on August 25, according to a notice published by Dalali Traders Auctioneers.
The planned sale comes less than two years after President William Ruto appointed Mr Wa Iria chairperson of the Public Procurement Regulatory Board, placing him at the helm of the agency that oversees the country's tender system.
Former Murang'a governor Mwangi Wa Iria.
The auction is the latest in a string of attempts by lenders and anti-graft agencies to dispose of assets belonging to prominent politicians and former governors in efforts to recover unpaid debts or proceeds alleged to have been acquired unlawfully.
The corruption recovery suit filed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) wants to recover Sh542.6 million from the politician, which it says was gained through corruption when he was governor. Mr Iria denies the accusations.
However, it appears as if his predicament extended beyond the EACC, with Dalali Traders stating that it has been instructed by a creditor to auction two properties belonging to the politician.
According to the auction notice, one of the properties sits on a 2.96-acre parcel and is occupied by Edinburgh Mountain Hospital in Milimani, Kiharu, Murang'a.
The freehold property, registered in the name of Edinburgh Mountain Hospital Limited, lies about 1.5 kilometres from Murang'a town centre, adjacent to Murang'a University College, Edinburgh Medical College and a proposed hotel and sports complex. Edinburgh Mountain Hospital is fully owned by Mr Iria, according to information from the Business Registration Service.
"The property is developed with a five-storey hospital building, rest areas, external concrete ramps and staircases," reads part of the auction notice.
The second property is a residential home that sits 0.48-acre land on Muiri Lane in Karen. It is registered in the name of Wa Iria Mwangi, having been used to guarantee a facility taken by Edinburgh College Ltd and Edinburgh Mountain Hospital Ltd.
Located off Langata Road near Galleria Mall, it comprises a triple-storey residence nearing completion, an older bungalow used as a guest house, carports and proposed amenities including a swimming pool, entertainment area, gazebo and staff quarters.
"The property is developed with a triple-storey house nearing completion, an old single-storey bungalow/guest house, carports and a proposed swimming pool, entertainment area and gazebo, and staff quarters," the notice states.
Neither Mr Wa Iria nor the auctioneer responded to our questions on the identity of the lender and the amount of cash borrowed. Before joining politics, Mr Wa Iria built a career in corporate Kenya, serving as the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (New KCC) managing director.
He also held senior positions at Kenya Breweries, Ngano Feeds, Freshco Seeds and Industrial Promotion Services before successfully contesting the Murang'a governorship in 2013. He retained the seat in 2017 and later served as vice-chairperson of the Council of Governors.
After serving two terms as Murang'a governor, Mr Wa Iria unsuccessfully vied for the presidency in the 2022 General Election on the Usawa Kwa Wote Party ticket.
His post-governorship period, however, has been overshadowed by legal troubles.
The EACC is after him in a civil recovery suit, alleging that the former governor unlawfully acquired money through procurement irregularities and abuse of office during his tenure at Murang'a County.
Mr Wa Iria is among a handful of former governors whose properties have faced auction or recovery proceedings.
Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has previously had properties advertised for auction over loan defaults, while assets linked to former Migori Governor Okoth Obado have been sold under court-sanctioned anti-corruption recovery proceedings.
Raphael Tuju's Dari Restaurant grounds. Mr Tuju lost control of his company, Dari Limited, over a loan owed to the East African Development Bank (EADB).
Former Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju has already lost one of his prime properties in Karen in a Sh4.5 billion loan dispute with the East African Development Bank. On Monday, the bank, through Graham Investment Auctioneers, said it would put up for sale his second property also in Karen.
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