Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s friend, Nicholas Nesbitt, was last week charged in court over allegations of fraud involving Ksh 102 million. The once-celebrated business leader, who previously chaired the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and served as General Manager for IBM East Africa, now finds himself at the centre of a multi-million shilling scandal.
Nesbitt pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe. According to the charge sheet, he is accused alongside British national Boytorun Mehment Bulent and Bee & Bee Kenya Limited, both of whom were absent from court. The prosecution alleges that the accused falsely claimed they could convert Ksh 102,437,500 into U.S. dollars at favourable rates, a promise they allegedly failed to fulfil.
The lawyer representing complainant Vimal Shah opposed Nesbitt’s release on bail, arguing that he could be a flight risk, especially since his co-accused, Bulent, had already left the court’s jurisdiction. However, Nesbitt’s lawyer, Cliff Ombeta, dismissed the claim, stating that it was unsubstantiated.
Once a key figure in Kenya’s private sector, Nesbitt played a crucial role in advocating for economic reforms and digital transformation. His arrest has sent shockwaves through the business community, with many of his former associates remaining silent on the matter. Meanwhile, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, with whom Nesbitt was often seen at state functions, has yet to comment on the case.
Dressed in a navy suit, the former corporate titan appeared in court with a noticeably subdued demeanour. His defence team argued that he was merely a middleman in a business transaction gone wrong. However, the prosecution maintained that Nesbitt used his influence and high-profile connections to orchestrate the fraudulent deal.
Magistrate Shikwe ordered that Nesbitt be released on a cash bail of Ksh 100,000, pending the hearing and determination of the case.
