Elijah Itegi Githinji
Elias Kyalo Ngao
Jackson Kiruti Njiiri
Grace Wamuyu Mathenge
Charges have been renewed against four former Kenya Airways (KQ, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) managers
In connection with the theft of KES 521.9 million shillings (USD 4.1 million) from the national carrier, eight
years ago, according to reports by the Daily Nation and Kenyan Tribune.
Jackson Kiruti Njiiri, Elias Kyalo Ngao, Elijah Itegi Githinji, and Grace Wamuyu Mathenge face seven
counts of conspiracy to steal, forgery, and money laundering in the Milimani court. Charges against Jane
Wanjiru Kiboi was withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Robison Ondieki, on February 14, turned down a request to defer
their plea hearing until the determination of a constitutional petition filed at the Kenyan High Court.
The four accused are charged alongside former Dubai Bank Kenya Limited chairman Hassan Ahmed
Zubeidi did not enter a plea because his lawyer was absent. In the first count, the accused are jointly charged with conspiracy to steal KES521,939,870
(USD4,152,610) from Kenya Airways between 2013 and 2015 at Dubai Bank Kenya Limited, which was
placed under receivership by the Central Bank of Kenya in 2015.
Githinji and Wamuyu are further accused of stealing KES13.5 million (USD107,407) at the bank’s
Eastleigh branch between February 11 and January 13, 2015.
On the third count, Githinji is charged with stealing KES2.5 million (USD19,889) at the bank’s Nakuru
branch. He is further charged with two counts of having forged a Citibank report for KES21.9 million
(USD174,225) and KES13.5 million.
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Wamuyu alone was charged with stealing KES 8.5 million (USD 67,625) from the Eastleigh branch
between April 13 and May 27, 2015.
All defendants are also accused of money laundering.
The prosecution has lined up four witnesses, including the former Kenya Airways chief executive officer.
Mbuvi Ngunze.
The fraud was first revealed by a whistleblower in July 2015, when a bank guarantee for fuel supply to
Kenya Airways turned out to be fake.
The court ordered each of the accused to be released on their earlier bail terms of KES 2 million
(USD15,911) or alternative cash of KES300,000 (USD2,386). Zubeidi was ordered to appear in court again on March 15 to answer the charges before the court hearing
starts on April 27, 2023.
