Businesswoman charged with failing to pay for rosecoco beans worth Ksh1.9M
By Zipporah Ngwatu, March 11, 2026A Nairobi businesswoman, Esther Waiyura Kibutu, has been charged before a Nairobi court with several counts, including cheating contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code.
According to the charge sheet, in November 2025, Waiyura convinced George Mwiti to deliver to her 11,340 tonnes of beans, promising to pay after he delivered the goods.
Mwiti proceeded and delivered the beans worth Ksh1,927,800 to her under Unga Limited, and the businesswoman was to pay him through the company’s name and account.
“On diverse dates between November 7, 2025, and November 20, 2025, in Nairobi County, with intent to defraud, you induced George Mwiti to deliver 11,340 tonnes of Amana roce coco beans valued at Ksh1,927,800 to Unga Limited by falsely pretending that you would remit to him payments received from Unga Limited Kenya, a fact you knew to be false,” part of the charge sheet reads.
However, upon receiving the goods from Mwiti, the businesswoman issued him a bad cheque contrary to Section 316(A)(1)(a)(4) of the Penal Code.
On the third count, the prosecution states that Waiyura, with intent to defraud, knowingly issued to George Mwiti a cheque for Ksh 900,000 drawn from Equity Bank with the account name Taifa Smart Holdings Limited, knowing that the said account had insufficient funds to honour the cheque upon presentation.
“That on January 23, 2025, while within the Republic of Kenya, with intent to defraud, knowingly issued Mwiti a cheque for Ksh 900,000 drawn from Equity Bank with the account name ‘Taifa Smart Holdings Limited’, knowing that the said account had insufficient funds to honour the cheque upon presentation,” part of the charge sheet reads.
Appearing before Milimani Principal Magistrate Teresa Nyangena, Waiyura denied all the charges, and a plea of not guilty was entered.
The State did not oppose the accused being granted bail and bond.
The court granted her a bond of Ksh500,000 with an alternative of Ksh100,000 cash bail and one contact person.
The matter will come up on March 24, 2026, for a pre-trial.