The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has successfully taken legal action against Mr Michael Kamau Kuria, the former Nyandarua County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Finance and Economic Planning over allegations of embezzling public funds and engaging in money laundering, among other charges.
According to the EACC, Kuria allegedly used his immediate family members to set up companies for conducting business with the county. One such entity, Gachomba and Company Properties, is a Limited Liability Company registered in Kenya, with its directors comprising Kuria’s close relatives. Notably, his spouse, Catherine Wanjiku, and his mother, Agnes Wanjiku Kuria, are both directors of the company.
The Commission launched an inquiry into claims of embezzlement, procurement irregularities, bribery, abuse of office, and conflicts of interest involving officials linked to the Nyandarua County Government. Acting on a tipoff, the EACC investigated allegations that Kuria had amassed significant wealth inconsistent with his declared income. The investigation revealed that during the relevant period, Kuria’s bank accounts at Equity Bank received deposits totalling Kshs. 73,947,806.60, which are suspected to have been acquired through corrupt means.
The findings indicate that Kuria is the beneficial owner of Gachomba and Company Properties, where he and his family members hold directorial and shareholding positions, and he serves as a mandatory signatory on its bank accounts. The company itself received Kshs. 82,083,066.00 in its Equity Bank account, which is believed to be linked to corruption, embezzlement, and bribery, with some depositors having been awarded tenders by the Nyandarua County Government during Kuria’s term as Chief Officer of Finance and Economic Planning.
Throughout his tenure as CECM, Kuria reportedly acquired and enhanced properties worth Kshs. 181,000,000 and obtained four motor vehicles valued at Kshs. 6,500,000. The EACC noted that from January 2013 to December 2017, Kuria’s only legitimate income came from his salary, totalling Kshs. 5,217,934 gross and Kshs. 2,139,128.60 net. However, an investigation uncovered unexplained assets totalling Kshs. 329,178,934.00, for which Kuria provided no satisfactory explanation.
Furthermore, some organizations that deposited funds into his accounts were awarded tenders under procurement processes marred by irregularities during his leadership.
In a ruling dated September 24, 2024, Judge E. N. Maina affirmed the Commission’s claims, ordering the respondents to pay Kshs. 82,083,066.00 to the Government of Kenya. The judgment also stated that several properties would be forfeited to the government as unexplained assets, including:
- Dundori/Lanetblock 5/2232 (Kiamunyeki ‘A’)
- Dundori/Lanetblock 5/1014 (Kiamunyeki ‘A’)
- Dagoretti/Kinoo/3213
- Dagoretti/Kinoo/4469
- Kiambu/Municipality/block 1/233
- Limuru/KirengaT.218
- Limuru/KirengaT.225
Properties Dagorretti/Kinoo/47 and Kikuyu/Kikuyu block 1/891 will also be forfeited, deducting the current market value of the land. Additionally, the following motor vehicles will be forfeited to the state:
- KCB 253B—Tata Tipper
- KCH 101P—Toyota Station Wagon
- KCF 410P—Nissan Station Wagon
