Court orders arrest of Kenyan diplomat in Malaysia, Ruth Kanini Kitony over Ksh48.9 million fraud

Police launch manhunt for top Kenyan diplomat

Mumbi Mutuko

November 5, 2019 7:56 AM

Arrest her

A woman .in handcuffs

The Anti-Corruption Court issued a warrant for the arrest of a Kenyan diplomat serving in Malaysia.

Ruth Kanini Kitony is wanted over embezzlement of Ksh48.9 million from the Kasarani Constituency Development Fund.

Chief Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi threw out a request by her lawyers to reject the State's plea for Ms Kitony to be arrested.

Ms Kitony, who was employed by the CDF Board as a District Development Officer did not present herself to the EACC last Friday as advised.

Chief Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi Pulse Live Kenya

Her lawyers Dunstan Omari and Anita Masaki told the court that Ms Kitony could not leave the Kenyan desk without a diplomat to attend to emerging issues or fly to Kenya to stand trial.

Abusing of office

However, Chief Magistrate dismissed the lawyer's argument.

“The parent appointing ministry of Ms Kitony should have communicated to the court the position of the suspect in the graft case,” Mr Mugambi said.

Kitony is accused of abusing her office by improperly conferring a benefit of Ksh1,033,000 to Jecinta Akoth Opondi and Maurice Odhiambo Orongo by signing vouchers as payment for supply of construction materials of Kasarani Girls' High School.

Former Kasarani MP Elizabeth Ongoro, Masha Kenga and six others were charged Pulse Live Kenya

On Monday, former Kasarani MP Elizabeth Ongoro, her husband Ferdinand Masha Kenga and six others were charged with conspiring to embezzle money from the Kasarani CDF.

They all denied the charges and were each released on a cash bail of Ksh3 million or a bond of Ksh6.5 million with one surety.