Ruto appointee to Portland Cement charged with fraud

Bruno Oguda Obodha, who was appointed to take the reins at East Africa Portland Cement, has been arraigned in Mavoko over alleged fraud.

He was arraigned in Mavoko before Senior Principal Magistrate Derrick Kuto to take plea for six counts of forging documents with intent to commit fraud on diverse dates in 2024. He pleaded not guilty.

Mr Obodha, who was appointed Portland Cement Managing Director by President William Ruto in December 2024, spent the weekend at Athi River Police Station cells after he was arrested for failing to appear in court to take plea in the case.

The charges Mr Obodha is facing are:

1. Forging a membership number for Blue Make International Security Company Ltd while purporting it to be a genuine membership certificate of the Kenya Security industry Association.

2. Altering a document with intent to defraud contrary to Section 375B of the Penal Code on November 11, 2024, at Portland Cement with intent to defraud.

3. Making a document without authority contrary to section 375A of the Penal Code. 

4. Making fake licence No. 2007534 to establish a radio communication station for Blue Make International Security Company Ltd. 

5. Falsifying tender guarantee No 2024 0022478 and documents for applicant Blue Make International Security Company Ltd purporting to a genuine Kingdom Bank tender with intentions to defraud Portland Cement.

6. Uttering false document with intent to defraud against the Penal Code.

Mr Obodha's lawyer pleaded with the court for a lenient cash bail on Monday, but the magistrate argued that the gravity of the charges compelled him to impose a Sh5 million bond and a surety of the same amount or a cash bail of Sh2 million and one reliable contact person.

"The matter will be held in trial court on April 29, 2025, for further directions on when the matter will be heard," ruled the court.

The complainant in the case is Portland Cement through Ms Camilla Sienei, the firm's Acting Head of Supply Chain.