Ben Gethi’s mother disowns NYS wealth

Benson Gethi at a Nairobi court on November 24, 2015, where he was charged with stealing Sh791 million belonging to the NYS between Dec 1, 2014 and April 30, 2015. PHOTO | FILE  

By BRIAN WASUNA, bwasuna@ke.nationmedia.com

In Summary

• Charity Wangui Gethi says that none of the parcels of land, houses or the Range Rover believed to have been bought with proceeds of the NYS cash theft is registered to her.
• The Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) has sued Mr Gethi, his mother, sister and 11 other individuals believed to have received proceeds of the Sh791 million stolen from the NYS.

Embattled businessman Ben Gethi’s mother has denied owning a range of properties that the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) has earmarked for seizure as it seeks to recover Sh791 million that was stolen from the National Youth Service (NYS).

Charity Wangui Gethi says in fresh court filings that none of the parcels of land, houses or the Range Rover believed to have been bought with proceeds of the NYS cash theft is registered to her.

The ARA has sued Mr Gethi, his mother, sister and 11 other individuals believed to have received proceeds of the Sh791 million stolen from the NYS, causing the court to issue orders stopping respondents in the suit from transferring properties believed to have been bought with proceeds of the theft.

Ms Gethi wants the court to drop her from the suit, arguing that she had nothing to do with either the looting of NYS funds or properties the ARA claims she and her son bought with the looted cash.

“I do not own any of the properties and the motor vehicles that are subject of the application. No evidence has been availed in the pleadings to even suggest that I am involved in “serious financial crimes and money laundering,” says in the affidavit, adding that the  proceedings are aimed at embarrassing her and her family.

The ARA accuses Mr Gethi, his mother, sister Jedidah Wangui, four traders and two lawyers of helping to launder the Sh791 million stolen from NYS.

The traders are John Kago, Sam Mwadime and Josephine Kabura while the lawyers are Patrick Ogola and Martin Muthomi.

A bank account run by Mr Ogola’s law firm at I&M Bank was frozen late last year after he tried to send Sh26.9 million to Hong Kong.

The ARA insists that the Sh26.9 million were proceeds from the sale of the luxury Range Rover and that Mr Ogola was trying to launder the funds.

READ: How lawyers helped Ben Gethi to launder NYS millions

The bank, however, agreed to have the account unfrozen in December as the suit progresses, but the law firm was barred from transferring the disputed Sh26.9 million until Justice Fred Ochieng determines the suit Mr Ogola had filed against I&M Bank.

One month later, the ARA filed a fresh suit against four other individuals believed to be Mr Gethi’s proxies used to purchase property as part of a money laundering scheme.

The recovery agency also enjoined Mr Gethi’s mother, Mr Kago and Mr Mwadime in the second suit.

Mr Gethi and Ms Kabura are believed to be the main beneficiaries of the theft. Police claim accounts run by their firms were the first to receive bulk payments totalling Sh791 million from the NYS.

Banking fraud police say the money was then transferred from the two firms’ accounts to 20 bank accounts belonging to a number of companies, law firms and individuals and has sought a freeze of the bank accounts until investigations are complete.