By Grace Gilo
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has charged three men with multiple offences before the Nairobi Anti-Corruption Court, including impersonating investigators, personating public officers and obtaining money by false pretence.
According to the ODPP, James Mbuvi Wangunze Kula, Mike Muthami Kasingi and Raphael Muthoka Kithembe face four counts of impersonating an investigator, two counts of personating public servants and one count of obtaining money by false pretence.
Prosecuting Counsels Borris Ongeto and Kennedy Panyako told the court that between 17th February and 10th March 2025, the accused falsely represented themselves as officers of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
“Kula, in particular, allegedly posed as the Director of Investigations at EACC and misled a member of the public into believing that a corruption case against them would be dropped,” stated the ODPP.
The accused are also reported to have impersonated EACC officers in interactions with two employees of Nairobi City County and the Chief Engineer, Structural, in the State Department of Works, claiming they could terminate corruption investigations against them.
“On 17th and 20th February 2025, Kula allegedly used a mobile phone registered on Truecaller as an ODPP officer to convince the two county officials that he was an EACC investigator and that the investigations would be closed,” ODPP revealed.
“The trio is further alleged to have impersonated an officer from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in an attempt to deceive the Chief Engineer, Structural, into believing that the corruption case against him would be dropped,” said ODPP.
On 1st March 2025, the accused reportedly obtained Ksh. 125,600 from the Chief Engineer by false pretence.
All three accused pleaded not guilty to the charges before Chief Magistrate Harrison Baraza. Kula was released on a cash bail of Ksh. 300,000.
The case is scheduled for mention on 10th June 2025.