A businessman has been charged in a Nairobi court with obtaining Ksh93.5 million ($722,007) from two Members of Parliament from Kakamega by pretending he would sell land in upmarket Karen neighbourhood – some 25 kilometres southwest of Nairobi’s central business district.

Abdiwahab Sheikh Abdi appeared before Milimani Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai and denied charges of obtaining a total of Ksh93.5 million from the Navakholo Constituency Member of Parliament Emmanuel Wangwe, Ikolomani MP Bernard Masaka Shinali and two others.

He is also alleged to have obtained monies from entrepreneurs Abdikadir Ali Ibrahim and Ben Kiptoo Ego.

According to the court documents, Abdi is accused of obtaining the said amounts of money from the four individuals under the guise of owning land in the affluent Karen Estate in Nairobi County, which he wanted to dispose of.

In the first count, he obtained Ksh26 million from Emmanuel Wangwe by falsely pretending to be in a position to sell him land parcel – LR. No.13873/3 – situated in Karen, Nairobi, which was a false promise.

In another count, he was charged with receiving Ksh25 million from Bernard Masaka Shinali by pretending he could sell him a land parcel – LR.No.13873/9 – also in Karen, which turned out to be a false promise.

Further, the court heard that Abdi obtained from Ben Kiptoo Ego and Abdikadir Ali Ibrahim Ksh26.5 million and Ksh16 million, respectively, by pretending he was could sell them land parcels LR. No.13873/2 and LR. No.13873/11.

The businessman denied the charges and, through his lawyer, pleaded with the court to be released on bond, promising to comply with conditions of the court. The defence counsel pleaded with the court to release the accused person on bond with an alternative of cash bail.

“Your honour, I pray you release the accused person on lenient bond terms to secure his freedom accorded by the constitution under Article 49.”

The prosecution did not oppose the application by the defence.

In determination, the magistrate released the accused person on a bond of Ksh2 million with an alternative cash bail of Ksh500,000 with one contact person.

The matter will be mentioned in two weeks.

• A Tell Media report / By Elizabeth Were