Danstan Omari Defends KeRRA Employee In KSh 21m Money Laundering Case: "Dowry For Beautiful Kamba Lady"

• The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission obtained orders to freeze a bank account of Daniel Wambua that had KSh 21.2 million
• Wambua said the amount was raised by well-wishers for his dowry and had accumulated to over KSh 26 million after a week of freezing his account
• Lawyer Danstan Omari said that EACC's move to freeze Wambua's account had made him take a wife on loan
• According to Omari, the dowry money was raised by 950 well-wishers in about three months between May and July 2023

Outspoken lawyer Danstan Omari has strongly defended his client accused of money laundering.

Dowry payment in Ukambani

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission had sought orders to freeze the bank accounts of Daniel Wambua, a junior accountant at Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) after it was found having over KSh 21 million, whose source was unclear.

Omari, who is Wambua's lawyer, said that his client had raised tens of millions through fundraisers conducted through WhatsApp groups with the money meant for dowry.

"My client spotted a very beautiful Kamba lady. Plans to raise dowry were put in place because he spotted a good thing. However, his jealous competitors who also wanted the woman rushed to the EACC and tipped them off about the money," said Omari.

According to Omari, Wambua got the money raised by at least 950 well-wishers who wanted him to get the woman of his dreams, but jealous friends plotted to bring him down.

EACC on money laundering

While applying to vacate the freeze orders, Omari accused the EACC of a spat of war between lovers and their detractors.

The lawyer argued that his client had a wife on loan as he could not pay the dowry because his account was frozen.

He said that Wambua was supposed to pay the dowry on August 5, 2023, but had until now been unable to fulfil his pledge.

"Our client is having a wife on loan which is a serious. We want the court to vacate those orders because the EACC whose mandate does not include the war on lovers should be disbanded. If it has entered into a war of people fighting over lovers and women it needs to be censured," Omari said unblinkingly.

According to Omari, the WhatsApp group through which the mobilisation of funds was done had been created in May 2023, and by July 27, 2023, his friends had raised over KSh 21 million as dowry for the beautiful woman.

KeRRA accountant on farming venture

In court papers, Wambua, who earns a net salary of KSh 177,000, says he is also a farmer.

"Over and above the foregoing, it should be noted that I am also a legitimate farmer, which fact seems not known to the applicant even in their haphazard preliminary investigations. Owing to that, I have accumulated reasonable funds and assets proportionate to my legitimate sources of income which I have also channeled in the account towards my cause," the defendant states in court papers.

Wambua accused the EACC of meddling in his personal life and wanting to embarrass him.

"The applicant ought to disclose their personal interest in my intended marriage, seeing as they have halted all my arrangements without justifiable reasons, causing me to be an embarrassment in the community," he quips in a replying affidavit.

According to the defendant, the dowry celebration took place without him honouring his word to his future in-laws.

Money laundering in Kenya

"That my intended dowry payment event was scheduled for two days whereas I was required by tradition to have made the dowry payment on the first date and the celebration on the next date. However, since the designated account for the payment of dowry was frozen to my detriment, the celebration took place without me honouring my word," added Wambua.

On Thursday, August 10, EACC obtained preservation orders from the High Court freezing KSh 21.2 million amassed in four months by Wambua, a KeRRA accountant who reportedly earned a monthly salary of KSh 55,607.

However, in his affidavit, Wambua indicated that he earns KSh 170,000 gross pay which comes down to a net of KSh 61, 207.

EACC claimed that Wambua was being reasonably suspected of having acquired and accumulated illicit wealth way beyond his known legitimate sources of income through embezzlement of public funds, conflict of interest, bribery, and abuse of office.

The High Court granted the preservation orders to ensure that the money is not dissipated, transferred, or withdrawn, thereby rendering the intended recovery suit nugatory.

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