Court Freezes Former Murang’a Governor Wa Iria Wife’s Property in Sh542 Million Graft Probe

The High Court has frozen two properties worth Sh16,300,000 belonging to former Murang’a governor Mwangi Wa Iria’s wife Jane Waigwe Kimani.

The court issued the freezing orders for the properties located in Umoja, Nairobi and Mweiga, Nyeri County, pending the hearing and determination of a suit in which the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is seeking to recover Sh542,610,615, which it believes Wa Iria acquired fraudulently during his tenure as Murang’a governor.

Between 2013 and 2017, Wa Iria is said to have irregularly awarded tenders amounting to over Sh500 million to Top Image Media Consultants, a company that he has links to, according to EACC.

"Top Image Media Consultants had been solely awarded media buying tenders worth Sh542,610,615 out of all companies prequalified between financial years 2013/2014 and 2016/2017," EACC says in court papers.

Investigations revealed that the director of Top Image Media Consultants Limited Jane Wanjiru Mbuthia was a close associate Wa Iria, who together with his wife benefitted directly from the contract amounts paid to the company.

EACC claims Top Image directly remitted part of the funds to Wa Iria, his wife and Value View Limited, a company belonging to his spouse. Top image also allegedly made a payment of Sh500,000,000 to the Mwangi Wa Iria Foundation, which is co-owned by the Governor and his wife.

The anti-graft commission said the company similarly brought the two frozen properties for Wa Iria’s wife.

"The Commission also established that Top Image Media Consultants and its Director also made payments for loans on behalf of the Governor as well as flight expenses and hotel accommodation costs," said EACC.

EACC is also seeking to recover a deposit of Sh9.5 million that had been paid to Mlima Kenya Holiday Homes to purchase holiday homes for Wa Iria’s wife and Wanjiru, the director of Top Image.