Wife of Banker Facing Charges Before US Court Claims Kenya Police and Civil Society Ignored Her Pleas

Investigators have learned of the marital disputes between a wealthy Kenyan and his wife from an Uber driver supposedly hired by the man to aid in a plot to murder the wife.

Following a tip-off, the investigators met with the wife to gather more information about the situation. In her testimony to American authorities, the wife of the banker holds the Kenyan authorities in low regard for their response. She attests that no action was taken by the police despite her numerous complaints against Dr Leonard Mwithiga. Following a warning from Mwithiga's cousin that her life and the lives of her two children were in danger, she fled Kenya in August 2022 with her loved ones.

The woman claims that she reached out to various entities, including the police, Amnesty International, the Federation of Women's Lawyers, the Ombudsman's office, and civil society organizations, but they failed to take any action. She states that she also sent her plea for help to the CEO and chairman of Kenya Commercial Bank. Mwithiga's wife recently told investigators that she believed no one would believe her story due to her husband's stature and influence in Kenya.

In her account, she reveals that she took the initiative to travel to New York on September 20, 2022, managing to secure airfare. With no acquaintances, she had to rely on the generosity of strangers who provided her with accommodation. In August, she was notified by a lawyer that Mwithiga had initiated legal proceedings to demand the return of the children to Kenya.

At the same time, she was informed that he had employed the assistance of two private investigators to surveil one of the minors. On September 22, she attended the court hearing in person, while Mwithiga participated remotely. The haunting fear of him persisted within her.