Mwangi wa Iria, others plead afresh to graft charges
Former Murang'a Governor Mwangi wa Iria at the Milimani anti-corruption court on September 1, 2026, when he was charged afresh in the Sh351 million graft case alongside six others.
Former Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria has been charged afresh over a Sh351 million tender while he served as a county boss.
The move follows the withdrawal of charges against a former Murang’a county secretary Mr Patrick Mukuria, who had been charged alongside Mr wa Iria and others.
The case was withdrawn after the court heard evidence from 13 prosecution witnesses.
In the fresh case Mr Wa Iria is charged alongside David Maina Kiama, David Maina Njeri, Jane Waigwe Kimani, Solomon Mutura Kimani and Peter Muturi Karanja.
The charges against wa Iria include conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and conflict of interest.
According to the charge sheet, the graft charge stems from the hiring of media coverage services from Top Image Media Consultants and Value View Limited.
The said media company was allegedly engaged to provide media coverage services to the Murang’a County government between October 21, 2014 and June 19, 2017, while he served as the governor for the devolved unit.
When the prosecution applied to charge the former county boss afresh, defense lawyers lamented that a lot of time has been wasted and the rights of the accused have been violated.
The trial magistrate Harrison Barasa allowed the plea by the prosecution and ordered Mr wa Iria and the co-accused to plead afresh to the fresh charges.
Mr Barasa directed the earlier bond terms to remain in force. The court also ordered the case to be mentioned September 17, 2026 for further directions.
The prosecution claims that wa Iria alongside others conspired to commit an offence of corruption between October 21, 2014 and June 19, 2017.
The state claims the accused conspired to commit the alleged fraud in relation to the procuring of a media service contract.
The prosecution alleges that between May 20, 2014 and June 19, 2017, he knowingly acquired a direct private interest in contracts between the county government and Top Image Media Consultants Limited and received Sh31.8 million from the company.
In the amended charge sheet further contains several money-laundering charges involving millions of shillings allegedly received from the county government through Top Image Media Consultants.
They are alleged to have received Sh7.5 million transferred from the county government of Murang’a towards the purchase of a property in Umoja, Nairobi through an arrangement intended to disguise the source of the money.
Another count claims that between May 27,2014 and February 20,2015 being the governor of Murang’a and directors of the two private company entered into an arrangement for the transfered of Sh4.5 million from the accounts of the county government for the purchase of two houses (Batian 4 and Nelion) through Mlima Kenya Homes, while in a separate count involves KSh600,000 allegedly used for borehole blasting on a property in Mweiga, Nyeri County.
The court has also been informed that at least 13 prosecution witnesses will have to be recalled to testify and be subjected to further cross-examination following the amendment of the charge sheet.
The accused claimed that the prosecution has not considered the judicial time invested in the case plus the costs incurred by the accused persons in engaging legal services.
The accused were first presented in court on April 15, 2024 where the former governor through Senior Counsel and former Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka stated the former county boss was being targeted due to his political standing.
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