Senator Danson Mungatana Narrates How He was Conned of Sh120 million in a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme

Tana-River County Senator Danson Mungatana on Thursday narrated to a Nairobi court how he was conned over Sh120 million in a get-rich-quick scheme that led him to poverty.

Mungatana said his late wife died without knowing the truth about their Karen home, which was part of the assets he sold to invest in the scheme.

The senator was testifying in a case in which Chad national Abdoulaye Tamba Kouro, who was introduced to him by Mohammed Amin, is accused of pretending he would help Mungatana invest the money.

Mungatana said the accused first earned his trust after he gave him Sh500,000 and received double the amount (Sh1,000,000). He then gave out Sh5 million and was given Sh10 million after six months.

"I was very happy when I was told there's another opportunity to invest. He asked me if I had money I told him nope, he asked me to look for money, he said the opportunity is for around Sh5 million," Mungatana told the court.

"I looked for the money from friends and relatives, he had said I will be paid double the amount and after six months the accused person, true to his words he gave me back 10 million shillings. And all these transactions were in cash."

The court heard that the accused person disappeared when Senator Mungatana gave him $1 million (Sh120.8 million) the third time.

"I never suspected that it would go wrong because the accused inspires you with confidence when you go to his place you will see many vehicles his apartment is richly serviced with men watching over him, he's been treated like a king and will never think that anything would go wrong," he said.

"I believed him and I started looking for that money. I sold properties that were in my name, I sold shares that were in my name and my late wife's name, we had cars that had log books we went to the banks and your honour we took short term loans, I had a home in Karen with seven rooms and at that time I was an MP it was the biggest investment I had made it was Sh70 million and I took a mortgage," he added.

"I lost everything. After borrowing all the wealth I had accumulated and every time I'd sell I'd convert into dollars and take the cash to that man. He made a mockery of my own savings."

Mungatana pleaded with the court to convict Tamba so that he serves as a lesson to other conmen.

"These foreigners are conning a lot of Kenyans. Everything that I did and the business of law firm they took all my money....he should have been charged alongside his sons, he's the main one who was taking the money. He works with his son and other people.”