The Anti-Corruption Court has scheduled the mention of a graft case involving former Muranga Governor Mwangi wa Iria and seven others for July 4. They are accused of irregularly awarding contracts for media buying services worth Sh351 million.
Principal Magistrate Isabellah Baraza set this date for the mention and pre-trial to fix the hearing. Wa Iria, David Njeri, and Solomon Kimani have denied the charges. They appeared before Milimani Anti-Corruption Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyuki.
Earlier, the accused were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki after High Court Judge Nixon Sifuna ordered Wa Iria to present himself to the EACC, following the vacation of orders stopping his prosecution. During the plea, Wa Iria was accompanied by political allies and represented by Senior Counsel Kalonzo Musyoka.
The prosecution has charged Wa Iria, Patrick Mukuria, Jane Wanjiru Mbuthia, David Kiama, David Maina Njetrii, Jane Waigwe Kimani, Solomon Kimani, and Peter Muturi Karanja, along with Top Image Media Consultants and Value View Limited. Jane Waigwe Kimani, Wa Iria’s wife, also faces charges for her involvement in awarding the contracts.
The charges allege that between October 21 and June 19, 2017, the accused conspired to commit corruption by unlawfully awarding a media buying services contract to Top Image Media Consultants worth Sh351 million.
Jane Waigwe Kimani and David Maina Kiama, who denied the charges, argued through their lawyers for lenient bond terms. Jane claimed she was innocent and a victim due to her marriage to Wa Iria.
