Sh1.6bn theft suit opens new wound in Tuskys kin empire

Pedestrians outside a Tuskys outlet in Nairobi on August 4, 2014. Two directors of Tuskys supermarket were on May 4, 2016 charged with stealing Sh1.6 billion from the firm in a new case that has opened fresh wounds over  the control of the vast family business empire. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • It is alleged that between 2002 and 2012 at Tuskys headquarters along Mombasa Road, Nairobi they stole Sh400 million belonging to Tusker Mattresses which came into their possession by virtue of being directors of the company.
  • The pair denied stealing Sh322 million and Sh441 million on diverse dates between 2002 and 2012. Their lawyer Saibabo Kanchori said the new case against the directors was “an extension of a family tussle.”

Two directors of Tuskys supermarket were on Wednesday charged with stealing Sh1.6 billion from the firm in a new case that has opened fresh wounds over  the control of the vast family business empire.

The prosecution said Mr Stephen Mukuha Kamau and Mr George Gachwe Kamau jointly stole the money with others not before court.

It is alleged that between 2002 and 2012 at Tuskys headquarters along Mombasa Road, Nairobi they stole Sh400 million belonging to Tusker Mattresses which came into their possession by virtue of being directors of the company.

The two were also charged with stealing an additional Sh279 million within the same period and a further Sh200 million while employed as directors.

The pair denied stealing Sh322 million and Sh441 million on diverse dates between 2002 and 2012. Their lawyer Saibabo Kanchori said the new case against the directors was “an extension of a family tussle.”

“The complainants  in the case are brothers of the accused persons, there has  been a tussle over the control of the business which has been pitting the brothers against each other,” the lawyer said while applying for bond.

He said the row has been pending at DCI headquarters for the past seven years and has had a round in court where a judge directed that the parties pursue an outside settlement.

“The complainant herein wants them incarcerated so that he can now be able to control the vast business empire,” the lawyer said. Mr Kanchori claimed no money had been stolen as alleged and that the dispute had been lodged before Justice George Odunga in 2013 who instead directed that the parties sit and settle the dispute since it was a fall out within the family. 

“The accused have been cooperating with investigators for the seven years that the matter has been pending,” the lawyer said.

He said the charges have been framed to influence the bond terms in order to withhold  the accused persons participation in the running of the business.

Prosecutor Eddie Kadebe, however, said the amount reflected on the charge sheet is what investigators established to have been stolen from the firm.

Yesterday, chief magistrate Daniel Ogembo released the two directors on Sh3 million bond and a surety of a similar amount or a cash bail of Sh1 million.

The case will be heard on July 12.