Mwangi Wa Iria Remanded After Failing To Raise KSh 10m Cash Bail In KSh 562m Graft Case

• On Tuesday, April 30, former Murang'a governor Mwangi Wa Iria was arraigned over a KSh 562 million graft case
• Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki released Wa Iria on a bond of KSh 20 million and an alternative cash bail of KSh 10 million
• Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) said Wa Iria would spend Tuesday night in prison after he failed to raise the cash bail

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi -Former Murang'a governor Mwangi Wa Iria has spent a night in prison after failing to secure his release in a KSh 562 million graft case.

Why was Mwangi Wa Iria charged?

On Tuesday, April 30, the former governor was arraigned in court, where he pleaded not guilty to corruption charges.

Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki released Wa Iria on a bond of KSh 20 million and an alternative cash bail of KSh 10 million, which the accused person did not manage to raise.

In a statement, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) said Wa Iria failed to raise the cash bail, forcing him to be remanded at the Industrial Area Prison.

"Former Murang'a governor Mwangi Wa Iria has been remanded at Industrial Area Prison after pleading not guilty to various corruption charges, including abuse of office, conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of public property and money laundering," EACC said.

Wa Iria, his wife, Jane Waigwe Kimani, and others are facing charges relating to the irregular award of a tender to Top Image Consultants at the cost of KSh 562 million.

"The charges facing Mwangi wa Iria, his wife Jane Waigwe Kimani , brother-in-law Solomon Mutura, Personal Assistant Peter Muturi Karanja and others relate to tenders for media and publicity irregularly awarded to a company linked to them known as Top Image Consultants at a cost of KSh 562 million during the Financial Years 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. The Directors of this company are Jane Wanjiru Mbuthia and David Maina Njeri who are close associates of the former Governor," the anti-graft body added.

Why is EACC going after Mwangi Wa Iria?

Earlier, the former governor of Murang'a county finally showed up at the EACC Police Station after weeks of avoiding arrest.

Wa Iria, his wife Jane Waigwe, and his brother-in-law are among those suspected of embezzling the county's funds by procuring illegal tenders during his time in office.

What else you need to know about Mwangi Wa Iria's case

• A helicopter landed at Mumbi Grounds to pick orders barring his arrest after his spouse was nabbed.
• He attended June Moi's burial amid the pursuit by the anti-graft officers.
• The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) summoned former Murang'a governor Mwangi wa Iria and his wife, Jane Waigwe Kimani, to appear at the Integrity Centre on Tuesday, April 17 at 8am.

Proofreading by Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke

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Collage of Nairobi Remand Prison gate (l) and Former governor Mwangi Wa Iria.

Mwangi Wa Iria Remanded after Failing to Raise KSh 10m Cash Bail in KSh

Wa Iria spends night in remand after failing to raise bail - POLITICS 254