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The Anti-Corruption Court has ordered a graft case against former Muranga Governor Mwangi wa Iria and seven others accused of irregularly awarding contracts for the provision of media buying services amounting to Sh351 million to be mentioned on July 4.

Principal magistrate Isabellah Baraza set the date for mention and  pre-trial of the case  for  purposes of fixing the hearing  of the in case where Wa Iria, David Njeri and Solomon Kimani  have since denied the offence.

The three appeared before Milimani Anti-Corruption Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyuki.

The accused persons were earlier arraigned before Milimani Anti-Corruption Chief magistrate Thomas Nzyoki after High Court judge, Justice Nixon Sifuna ordered Wa Iria to present himself to the EACC for processing after orders stopping his prosecution were vacated.

During the plea taking,the former county chief appeared in court with his political allies and was represented by a battalion of counsels led by Senior counsel Kalonzo Musyoka.

Instituted charges

The prosecution has instituted charges against Wa Iria, Patrick Mukuria, Jane Wanjiru Mbuthia, David Kiama, David Maina Njetrii, Jane Waigwe Kimani, Solomon Kimani and Peter Muturi Karanja and companies Top Image Media Consultants and Value View Limited.

Other accused persons include David Maina Kiama and Jane Waigwe Kimani who have also denied the same charges of corruption.

According to the charges, it is alleged that the accused persons between October 21 and June 19, 2017, in Muranga county within Kenya, conspired to commit an offence of corruption in respect of an unlawful contract for the provision of media buying services awarded to Top Image Media Consultants limited by Muranga county government amounting to Sh351 million.

Also the spouse to the former Muranga Governor wa Iria’s wife Jane Waigwe Kimani has been charged with the same offence of irregularly awarding contracts for the provision of media buying services amounting to Sh351 million.

Jane and Kiama were accused that with others already charged, conspired to commit an offence of corruption in respect of an unlawful contract for the provision of media buying services awarded to Top Image Media Consultants limited by Muranga county government amounting to Sh351 million.

Through their lawyers, the accused asked the court for lenient bond terms. Jane said she was a victim in the case because of her association with the first accused (Wa Iria) by association of marriage. She said she was innocent.