Former Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria charged in Ksh 351M corruption case
Former Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria charged in Ksh 351M corruption case
Former Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria is facing fresh corruption charges over alleged irregularities in a Ksh351 million media procurement deal involving the county government when he was in office.
The case was brought back before court after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) amended the charges against Wa Iria and six other co-accused.
It includes several money-laundering allegations involving funds allegedly obtained from the county government through the arrangement, though Wa Iria and the other accused individuals have denied them.
Prosecutors alleged that a contract with an advertising and media-buying company resulted in the loss of Ksh351,097,491.15 in public funds.
Wa Iria is accused of conspiring to commit a corruption offence in connection with the procurement arrangement between October 2014 and June 2017.
He also faces a conflict-of-interest charge over an alleged private interest in contracts entered into by the county government.
The prosecution further claimed that he received Ksh31.8 million linked to the contracts during the period under investigation.
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Prosecutors alleged that part of the money was used to acquire property in Nairobi and purchase two houses.
Another transaction cited in the charges involves Ksh600,000 allegedly spent on borehole blasting at a property in Nyeri.
The amended charges mean that 13 prosecution witnesses who had already testified will have to return to court for further examination and cross-examination.
The latest development comes after Wa Iria was cleared to serve as chairperson of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Regulatory Authority (PPADRA) board in 2025 after a petition cited past and pending cases involving impeachment, graft and asset forfeiture to challenge his appointment by President William Ruto.
In 2024, the ODPP recommended charges against Wa Iria and other former county officials over alleged procurement irregularities and conflict of interest involving Ksh140 million.
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