BY IRENE ONYANGO.
A University of Nairobi professor and two others have been charged before a Milimani court with impersonating anti-graft officials.
Douglas Njoroge Kinyanjui, Peter Njoroge Mwaura and Francis Nding’uri Muhoho appeared before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Martha Nanzushi and denied the charges.
The trio were charged with presenting themselves as officers from the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission to Meshak Otuke Mokaya, with intent to defraud.
They allegedly impersonated EACC officers on November 6, 2023 at Java House along Koinange street in Nairobi’s central business district.
Mwaura faced two other charges including cyber harassment and obtaining registration by false pretences.
According to the charge sheet, Mwaura allegedly sent a text message to Mosorio between November 1 and 6, 2023, claiming he would help him solve a corruption scandal levelled against him.
The text message stated, “Good afternoon sir, the reason to finds is to notifies you and other workmate, if you wish to meet up with me kidly tell me the day and choose a hotel of your choice, i will give the document to read it yourself the we find the way foward,information has come from your office, i Did my investigation n got your number and decided to talk to u firt before anything else. Its up to you nice evening,” stated the charge sheet.
The prosecution told the court that Mwaura willfully procured an Airtel subscriber number for himself by using an identity card that didn’t belong to him.
The court heard that the mobile number was registered with the identity card of Damaris Wanja Wainaina and falsely pretended the said number to be his.
According to the defence lawyers, the three are known businessmen in Lari Kiambu County.
Njoroge, the court heard, is a businessman and the director of Dinari water project which is located in Kijabe while Mwaura is the founder of Community Based Organization, which deals with advocacy of infectious diseases located in Lari.
Muhoho is a professor at University of Nairobi and a Health Officer in Nairobi county.
They were released on bond of Sh 500,000 with each with surerity of the same amount.
The matter will be mentioned on December 5, 2023 for pre trial.
