Businesswoman Esther Muthoni Muiruri, has been handed a 21-month jail term after being convicted in a multi-million-shilling fraud and forgery scandal.
Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi found Muiruri guilty of various counts of obtaining money by false pretence, forgery, and uttering false documents.
The case arose from a complaint filed by businessman Duncan Maraga Mbici.
As an alternative to serving time, Muiruri was ordered to pay substantial fines:
Ksh 400,000 per count (or 12 months in prison) for obtaining money by false pretence.
Ksh 200,000 per count (or 6 months in prison) for forgery.
Ksh 100,000 per count (or 3 months in prison) for uttering false documents.
How the Fraud Was Orchestrated
According to court testimony, Mbici met Muiruri through her husband, Joseph Migwi Mwai. The couple invited him to join a mineral water business, promising lucrative returns. Convinced by the proposal, Mbici invested in their company, Bella Casa Agencies Ltd, acquiring a 30% stake.
They opened a joint account at I&M Bank with Mbici and Muiruri as co-signatories and later agreed to expand into the local and international meat trade.
Prosecutors revealed that Muiruri then introduced Mbici to what appeared to be a highly profitable tender from Craft Trading, a firm allegedly operating from the Kuwait Embassy, to supply meat. Trusting her, Mbici raised the necessary funds to finance the deal.
While Mbici was away in the United States on business, Muiruri managed operations. Upon his return in November 2021, he found their joint account empty. His inquiries uncovered what investigators described as a carefully planned fraud, leading to the charges and eventual conviction.
