The High Court declined to unfreeze Ksh643 million worth of assets belonging to a former Nairobi City County junior employee and a popular club owner.
In a February 8, 2024, statement, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) stated that a ruling by Justice Nixon Sifuna dismissed the application.
The application was filed by Wilson Nahashon Kanani, who was a former Development Control Officer II at City Hall.
“Justice (Prof) Nixon Sifuna yesterday dismissed an Application by Wilson Nahashon Kanani, an employee of Nairobi County Government, who wanted the High Court to discharge orders it granted EACC in September 2023 freezing his multimillion assets that he was unable to explain,” read part of the statement.
The assets listed by the Ethics Commision include landed properties, high-end vehicles and Ksh48 million held in various bank accounts.
According to the EACC, Kanani is a co-director of a private company trading as 1824, a popular bar and nightclub along Langata Road, Nairobi.
Court order
The freezing orders were issued pending the hearing and determination of a recovery case in which EACC wants Kanani’s unexplained assets forfeited to the State.
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Furthermore, the case was filed after investigations established that Kanani, a junior employee who earned a net salary of Ksh55,866, had in 5 years accumulated Ksh643.2 million.
Also, according to the commission, he had accumulated assets whose value was way beyond his known legitimate sources of income.
EACC further revealed that the corrupt dealings were transacted through bank accounts in his name, companies, spouse and minor children.
In his ruling, Justice Sifuna ordered that the existing freezing orders remain in place until the logical conclusion of the EACC forfeiture case.
Graft cases
EACC was allowed to complete investigations into the claims in 2022 through a ruling by Lady Justice Esther Maina.
Also, in December 2023, Kananis’ popular city nightclub 1824, was shut down pending investigations into how he accumulated his assets.
Videos and photos seen by The Kenya Times showed unidentified individuals back then carting away furniture and other materials from the club as uniformed police looked on.
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The club’s signature whisky barrel tables were also seen strewn all over the front area as a security officer looked around.
Meanwhile, former Nairobi governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko was acquitted in a Ksh357 million graft case related to alleged misappropriation of funds at the Nairobi County Government.
In the February 7,2024 ruling, the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court acquitted the former governor of the charges, citing inadequate evidence.
Milimani Magistrate Eunice Nyutu held that no evidence has been adduced by the prosecution to show they conspired to embezzle the said funds.
Sonko had been charged alongside 16 others for conflict of interest and allegations relating to a joint conspiracy between the former governor and directors of private limited companies to embezzle the funds.
