An employee of the National Assembly, Benjamin Mulwa Muiya, has been arraigned in a Nairobi court over allegations of defrauding multiple individuals of millions of shillings through fake land sale schemes.
Muiya faced multiple charges, including obtaining Ksh. 3 million from Siratho Mohammed Abdi between July 2022 and April 30, 2023, under the false pretense of selling a one-acre piece of land in Syokimau. The prosecution revealed that the accused had no authority or capability to sell the said property, listed as LR No 345/30.
In another count, Muiya was charged with defrauding Abdullahi Ahmed Roble of Ksh. 1,064,910 between October 2022 and January 2023, similarly claiming he could sell him a one-acre plot in Syokimau. A third charge accused him of obtaining Ksh. 2.6 million from Abdullahi Mohammed Hassan under the same fraudulent guise.
Appearing before Milimani Principal Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe, Muiya denied all charges. The prosecution, led by James Gachoka, did not oppose his release on bond but requested the court to impose terms proportionate to the severity of the allegations.
“Your honour, I do not oppose the release of the accused on bond but urge this court to consider the weight of the offence committed,” Gachoka stated.
In his defense, Muiya’s lawyer, Zack Mwambi, argued for leniency, stating that the allegations were unproven and lacked supporting documents.
“Your honour, I urge you not to be influenced by the figures cited in the charge sheet. My client should be granted lenient bond terms,” Mwambi pleaded.
Magistrate Shikwe ruled that bond is a constitutional right and granted Muiya a bond of Ksh. 500,000 with a surety of the same amount or an alternative cash bail of Ksh. 200,000, requiring one contact person. The pre-trial hearing is scheduled for February 3, 2025.
City Therapist Charged with Death Threats
In a separate case, a city hospital facial therapist, Duncan Chengo, was charged with threatening to kill John Maina Wangechi. The alleged incident occurred at Kenyatta Market in Kibra Sub-County, Nairobi.
Chengo denied the charges and was released on a bond of Ksh. 100,000.
