Kamani brothers, ex-PSs in limbo as Sh3.5 billion Anglo Leasing case stalls again

 Anglo Leasing scandal suspects, Rashmi Kamani and Deepak Kamani, at a Milimani Court during the hearing of the case on March 9, 2016. [File, Standard]

The fate of two former government officials and two businessmen charged in the Sh3.5 billion Anglo Leasing corruption case continues to hang in the balance after the Court of Appeal failed to fix a hearing date for their appeal, further delaying the long-running trial.

The development emerged before Milimani Anti-Corruption Chief Magistrate Harrison Baraza, where lawyers informed the court that although all parties had filed their written submissions, the Court of Appeal had failed to conclude the appeal or fix a hearing date. 

They urged the magistrate to grant them two to three months to allow the appellate court to hear and determine the matter.

"The matter at the Court of Appeal is yet to be concluded. We have filed our submissions and are awaiting the fixing of a hearing date. We are asking for two or three months to enable the Court of Appeal to hear and render its judgment in the matter," they told the court.

Magistrate Baraza directed that the case be mentioned on August 30 to update the trial court on the progress of the appeal proceedings.

The latest twist means the fate of businessmen Deepak Kamani and Rashmi Chamanlal Kamani, together with former Permanent Secretaries Joseph Magari, Dave Mwangi and David Onyonka, remains uncertain as they await the Court of Appeal's determination on whether they should be placed on defence.

They were acquitted on the strength of " lack of evidence to warrant prosecution", with the magistrate vindicating them from the alleged offences.

The Court of Appeal has effectively stalled the defence hearing since February 18, 2026, when it issued orders staying the proceedings pending hearing and determination.

The accused persons are seeking an independent and comprehensive reassessment of the subordinate court's ruling, arguing that the evidence on record does not warrant their being put on defence.

The corruption case, which has been in court for more than 15 years, stems from the controversial procurement of security equipment for the Kenya Police Forensic Laboratory valued at 40 million Euros (approximately Sh3.5 billion).

The alleged offences are said to have been committed between October 2003 and April 2004 in Nairobi.

The five accused were initially acquitted in January 2024 after the trial court ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a case requiring them to defend themselves. 

Three other accused persons who had also been charged in the matter have since died, including former Finance Minister David Mwiraria

However, the Director of Public Prosecutions challenged that decision before the High Court and in July 2025, Justice Benjamin Musyoki overturned the acquittal.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, the accused moved to the Court of Appeal, where they are seeking recourse against the High Court decision.

The trial had ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove that government payments intended for Sound Day Corporation were corruptly channelled to Apex Finance Corporation, an offshore company registered in Mauritius that featured prominently in the disputed transaction.

Until the Court of Appeal hears and determines the appeal, the defence hearing will remain suspended, prolonging one of Kenya's oldest and long-outgrown corruption cases.