Juja Member of Parliament George Koimburi Ndung’u was on Monday arraigned before a Nairobi court to face charges in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently acquire land valued at Sh10 million.
Koimburi was charged with four counts: conspiracy to defraud, forgery, obtaining registration of land by false pretences, and uttering false documents.
According to the charge sheet, the legislator, together with others not before the court, is accused of conspiring to defraud Julius Gitonga Githinji of a 1.31-hectare parcel of land in Ruiru on or before March 26, 2020.
The MP allegedly forged a sale agreement purporting it to be a genuine document signed by the complainant. He is further accused of unlawfully obtaining registration of the land at the Thika District Land Registry and later presenting false documents at the Ruiru Land Registry.
Koimburi denied all the charges. His lawyer urged the court to grant him a free bond, arguing that he was not a flight risk and warning that missing eight consecutive parliamentary sittings could cost him his seat. The defense also revealed that the MP had settled with the complainant and written to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) seeking withdrawal of the case.
The prosecution opposed a free bond but did not object to lenient cash terms. Senior Principal Magistrate Robinson Ondieki released Koimburi on a cash bail of Sh100,000.
Koimburi’s co-accused, Shelmith Karungiri Maina, had earlier been charged and freed on a similar cash bail. A third suspect, lawyer Gathii Irungu, is reportedly out of the country for treatment and is yet to take plea.
The case will be mentioned on October 22 for pre-trial.
