Woman charged over Ksh60M fake laptop tender
By Zipporah Ngwatu, March 31, 2026A woman has been charged with conspiracy to defraud one Vija Virma of USD 398,000, equivalent to Ksh60 million, in a fake laptop tender.
According to the charge sheet, Joy Wangari Kamau conspired to steal from Virma between September and December 2023, pretending to help him get a Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy laptop tender.
Appearing before Milimani Senior Resident Magistrate Joan Mati on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Wangari denied the charges.
Plea not entered
Magistrate Mati noted that a plea of not guilty had been entered.
The court heard that the accused has another pending matter related to the current one in court number 7.
The prosecution informed the court that the said matter, E257/2024, is coming up for a hearing on June 25, 2026.
Further, they requested that the court move the current case file to court 7 for consolidation.
“Your honour, the accused has another pending matter in court 7; I was praying this matter to be placed before court 7,” the prosecution submitted to court.
The defense lawyer did not object to the prosecution’s request to have the matter be moved to court number seven.
Push for bail
Meanwhile, they urged the court to grant the accused reasonable bail and bond terms.
They argued that Wangari has always cooperated with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) during investigations.
The defense also told the court that the accused is a single mother of two and the sole breadwinner, urging the court to grant her bail.
“Your honour, the accused person is a single mother of 2; she is the sole breadwinner of her own family. She is the one who cares for her elderly parents, and equally important, there is no affidavit opposing bail and bond,” Wangari’s lawyers told the court.
“We therefore urge this court to grant her a reasonable bond and bail,” the defense added.
According to the charge sheet, Wangari, on diverse dates between September 4, 2023, and December 30, 2023, at an unknown place within Nairobi County, with others already before court, conspired to commit a felony, namely stealing.
“That you conspired to steal USD 398,000, equivalent to about Ksh 60 million, from VIJA VIRMA by falsely pretending that you were in a position to secure for him a tender for the supply of laptops and other accessories to the Ministry of Information Communication and Digital Economy under number MICT/VOL.1/VACC/2023-1, a fact you knew to be false,” part of the charge sheet reads.
Other charges
On the second count, Wangari has been charged with obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to section 313 of the Penal Code.
She has also been charged with forging a document, namely a request for quotation, with intent to defraud NTV Mobile Telecom and Accessories Trading as FZCO Company.
The prosecution states that the said document was purported to be a genuine and valid document issued by the Ministry of Information Communication and Digital Economy on November 1, 2023.