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Moi-era minister’s widow charged with giving false information over Sh5bn land
Margaret Wairimu Magugu, widow of former Finance minister Arthur Magugu (inset) at her Ridgeways home on May 3. Ms Magugu is battling with Karura Investments Ltd, a private firm, over the ownership of an 82.4-acre piece n Nairobi’s Muthaiga suburb.
The widow of a former Cabinet minister during the Kanu regime has been charged with giving false information to the police regarding a Sh5 billion parcel of land in Karura, Kiambu County, eight years ago.
Mrs Margaret Wairimu Magugu, the wife of former Cabinet Minister Arthur Magugu, was arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts on Tuesday.
Mrs Magugu, who is over 80 years old and reportedly in poor health, was presented before the trial magistrate in chambers, assisted by two defence lawyers.
According to the charge sheet filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga, Ms Magugu is accused of giving false information to a public service officer, contrary to Section 129(a) of the Penal Code.
The DPP stated that on October 4, 2018, at Ridgeways area Mrs Magugu knowingly informed Police Chief Inspector Jackson Guyo that Karura Investments Limited were tenants on a parcel of land, LR No 12422/319, valued at Sh5 billion.
The charge sheet further states that Ms Magugu knew the land had already been lawfully subdivided and transferred to Karura Investments Limited (KIL), and that she intended to mislead Inspector Guyo into believing the false information.
Ms Magugu denied the charge. Her lawyers applied for reasonable bond terms, arguing that bail is her fundamental constitutional right under Article 49 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.
They told the court that their client had been indisposed for some time and was frail, requiring assistance to walk into and out of court.
The court heard that Ms Magugu had earlier been summoned to appear on December 9, 2025, but failed to turn up due to health challenges. She had been scheduled to appear before Chief Magistrate Dolphina Alego, but her lawyers informed the court that she had fallen ill.
The magistrate deferred plea-taking to January 13, 2026.
On Tuesday, Ms Magugu appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Carolyne Mugo in chambers.
“Your Honour, we have presented the accused as directed by the court last year,” one of the defence lawyers told the magistrate.
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The prosecution, led by Irene Magolo and Doreen Njoroge, did not oppose the bail application. “We have no instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions to oppose bail,” Ms Magolo told the court.
Ms Njoroge urged the magistrate to take judicial notice that the accused is a senior citizen who was unlikely to abscond.
In a brief ruling, Magistrate Mugo allowed the bail application, citing the accused’s constitutional right to bail.
“I have considered the bail application by the accused through her two defence lawyers. Bail is a constitutional right. I therefore order that she be released on a cash bail of Sh50,000,” ruled Ms Mugo.
The court directed that the matter be mentioned on February 4, 2026, for pre-trial directions and ordered the prosecution to supply witness statements to the defence.
Ms Magugu paid the cash bail immediately and was released.
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