Arrest warrant out against Kabura for skipping court date

A warrant of arrest has been issued against a businesswoman linked to the Sh791 million National Youth Service (NYS) scam after she failed to honour a court date.

Chief Magistrate Daniel Ogembo directed the police to arrest Ms Josephine Kabura and present her in court on Tuesday alongside 10 others to face a fresh case of money laundering arising from investigation into the NYS scandal.

Ms Kabura is the owner of four companies implicated in the scam.

The money-laundering case, according to the prosecution, arises from investigations into the transfer of millions of shillings into suspect accounts — some of which have already been frozen — and the purchase of properties in and around Nairobi.

INQUIRY FILE

“Having perused a resubmitted inquiry file, the DPP is satisfied the evidence establishes the offence of money laundering,” an affidavit from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions states.

Also summoned to face similar charges are Mr Ben Gethi, Ms Charity Wangui, Ms Jedidah Wangari, businessman John Kago and Samuel Mudanyi, alias Sam Mwadime.

Others are Anthony Kihara, John Vandamme, Martine Gachara, Paul Kinuthia and lawyer Patrick Ogola, who is said to have carried out transactions.

Ogola and Kihara recently lost a petition in which they had sought to stop their prosecution but they have also lodged a new preliminary objection at the lower court in which they are questioning the jurisdiction of the trial court in handling the matter.

The prosecution has drafted 15 counts of money laundering.

The accused allegedly schemed to launder NYS millions by buying expensive motor vehicles, including a Range Rover, Prado, Jeep and properties in Muthaiga and Thika.