Margaret Nyakang'o Freed On KSh 500k Cash Bail: List Of Charges Controller Of Budget Faces

• The Controller of Budget (CoB), Margaret Nyakango, has been released on a cash bail of KSh 500,000
• Nyakang'o pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against her and ten other co-accused persons
• She was charged with defrauding Claudia Mueni KSh 29 million, among other charges that date back to 2016

TUKO.co.ke journalist Wycliffe Musalia brings over five years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting, offering deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Margaret Nyakang'o has been released on a cash bail of KSh 500,000.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested the Controller of Budget (CoB) alongside ten other officers on Tuesday, December 5.

Appearing before a Mombasa court, Nyakang'o pleaded not guilty to four counts filed by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP).

"We note that the file was first submitted for perusal and advice on July 6, 2022. Upon perusal, we identified some areas that needed to be covered. Vide our letter, Ref. No. ODPP/HQ/CAM/2/000389 dated September 2, 2022, we directed that the said areas be covered," the ODPP said in a statement to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

List of charges Nyakang'o and co-accused face

The ODPP said the accused persons will be charged jointly;

• Conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Section 317 of the Penal Code.
• Operating a Sacco without a licence, contrary to Section 24 as read with Section 66 of the Sacco Societies Act, 2008.
• Forgery under c/s 345, as read with Section 349 of the Penal Code
• Using a false document under c/s 353 of the Penal Code.

Court papers indicated that Nyakang'o and co-accused defrauded Claudia Mueni of KSh 29 million, according to complaints filed in 2016.

The case will be mentioned again on December 13, 2023.

Kenyans ask Why CoB's 2016 case is surfacing now

Nyakang'o has been exposing the shortcomings of the Kenya Kwanza administration, saying the government may soon be unable to render crucial services due to the weakening shilling against the dollar.

A section of Kenyans termed her arrest political following her recent statements on misappropriation of public funds.

Narok senator Ledama Olekina wondered why the police had to wait seven years to arrest Nyakan'o.