Uni Industries East Africa Ltd (UNEIA) CEO Moaz Manji, a prominent cargo handling company, is reeling from revelations of alleged fraud that led to the loss of over Ksh 188 million.
The fraudulent schemes are said to involve a local shareholder Mr Moaz Manji under questionable transactions involving Digital Cargo Handling Ltd (DCHL), a company that allegedly facilitated multiple fraudulent invoices and payments mostly to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
An internal forensic audit by Muita Njoroge Associates, classified as private and confidential, details schemes in UNEIA’s financial records revealing invoices and payments unsupported by proper documentation, amounting to Ksh 71,477,977.29.
This audit, which UNEIA initially kept under wraps, exposes DCHL’s role in submitting invoices with fictitious proof of payment to KRA.
UNEIA then settled these invoices by issuing cheques to DCHL, allegedly based on falsified documentation. Key transactions involved:
Duplicated Invoices: Ksh 4.92 million posted twice under different dates in UNEIA’s records.
Unsupported Handling Fees: Ksh 6 million billed with no supporting documents or computed taxes.
Unsubstantiated Charges: Ksh 24.29 million recorded under DCHL without corresponding invoices or proof of payment.
Suspicious Clearing: 69 cheques totaling Ksh 46.19 million were cleared under an unrelated company, raising concerns about cheque discounting schemes.
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Role of Moaz Manji, the Local Shareholder
According to a public petition by whistleblowers Michael Mutembei Makarina and Dr. Erick Onyango, Moaz Manji, a UNEIA shareholder and former regional managing director, allegedly played a central role in these fraudulent activities.
They accuse Manji of signing multiple cheques without proper documentation, approving fictitious invoices, and facilitating double entries in UNEIA’s Tally system.
The petition further claims that DCHL is a “briefcase company” with no physical office, raising suspicions about how it was awarded contracts with UNEIA without thorough due diligence.
Makarina and Dr. Onyango have demanded answers from both UNEIA and DCHL, questioning the slow pace of investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
They argue that the lack of transparency around such schemes risks deterring future foreign investments in Kenya and creates an unstable business environment.
“We must speak out against these fraudulent practices,” the petition reads, noting that these unethical practices harm the local economy and job market.
They urge UNEIA to adopt stricter business ethics to foster a more transparent investment landscape in Kenya.
Efforts to Reach OutEfforts to obtain a response from Moaz Manji have been unsuccessful.
The allegations, if proven, represent a significant setback for UNEIA and may prompt broader questions about corporate governance and anti-fraud measures within Kenya’s business community.
As UNEIA seeks to restore its reputation, the case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of stringent oversight, due diligence, and robust accounting practices in preventing such financial malpractices.
