DNK International By Our Reporter,Nairobi.
Former Tigania East MP Josephat Mwirabua Gichunge who is accused of allegedly defrauding 12 individuals of over Sh29 million in a land transaction business has been released on a cash bail of Sh1 million.
While releasing him, Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina pointed out that he has considered the application by the state counsel HIllary Isiaho, applying for stringent terms against the former legislator, notifying the court that he has absconded from court and a warrant of arrest was released in another separate case in Kajiado.
“I have considered the application by the defence lawyer Duncan Okatch and the prosecution, and there is no doubt that the accused absconded from the court,” said Onyina.
The prosecution had not opposed the release of the accused on bond but urged the court for stringent terms considering the nature of the offence and the fact that he had absconded, and a warrant of arrest was issued.
“Though we do not oppose the release of the accused on bond, we urge for stringent terms considering he has absconded from the anti-corruption court session and a warrant of arrest has been issued and yet to be lifted,” Isiaho told the court.
The state counsel notified the court that the accused has other cases in Kajiado and in the anti-corruption court, and he was charged last week in a different criminal court in Milimani.
“Your honour, the Kajiado matter E873/2025 is yet to take plea, but the production order was issued, and he was not produced. The case will be mentioned on June 23, 2026,” said the prosecutor.
Lawyer Okatch protested saying his client should have been taken to Kajiado law courts for trial.
He urged the court to consider releasing the accused on bond since he is a known person being a former MP.
The defense lawyer said bail is a constitutional right.
The court heard that the accused pretended to be in a position to sell a plot of land with two complete greenhouses, which was a false fact.
According to the prosecution the accused is said to have defrauded twelve individuals out of different amounts in the guise of selling them a plot of land with two complete greenhouses, which was a lie.
The former law maker faces 26 counts of obtaining money through pretenses contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code.
The magistrate heard from the director of public prosecutions that between January and December 2017 at Ansh Plaza within Nairobi county with intend to defraud obtained large sums of money from different people claiming that he would sell to them land with two complete green houses.
He was accused of obtaining Sh1,100,000 from Rukia Mueni pretending he was in a position to sell to her a parcel of land with two complete green houses.
Gichunge received different amounts of money ranging from Sh780,000 to Sh2,200,000.
All the 26 charges stated that the accused knew he was cheating the investors in the greenhouse horticultural businesses from whom he received the money.
He has denied all the counts and the magistrate released him on cash bail of 1 million or an alternative of bond of Sh1 million pending the hearing and determination of the case.
[DNK-International@June 20,2026]
