Woman sues President Ruto's aide over 6 million debt

A warrant of arrest has been issued against United Democratic Alliance (UDA) National Organising Secretary Karisa Nzai (pictured above) over a five-year Sh6.1 million debt owed to an alleged girlfriend.

Principal Magistrate Maureen Nabibya on July 28 directed the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Makupa to execute the arrest of the former Jomvu Member of the County Assembly. Karisa, who doubles as President William Ruto's political advisor, defaulted on paying Sh6,159,079 owed to Ann Rugiri who he claims was a former lover.

Trouble in paradise

"Whereas the sum of Sh6,159,079 remains unpaid in respect of the said decree. These are to command you to arrest the said Karisa Nzai and unless he shall pay you the sum as noted in the margin together with executing officers' expenses and fees if any to bring the said judgment debtor before the court with convenient speed," read the warrant. Rugiri sued Nzai and his long-time friend Daudi Marshall.

According to Rugiri, she advanced Nzai to a loan of Sh2.5 million in 2015 and he was expected to pay it back in installments. Nzai then proceeded to issue her a cheque of Sh800,000 drawn by Marshall as a down payment for the loan which ended up being dishonored.

Rugiri then said she asked Nzai to regularise the payments and he paid her sh.100,000 but declined to pay the rest of the loan. However, Nzai in his defense told the court that Rugiri was his lover and they received monies from each other.

He maintained that he has never borrowed Rugiri the said Sh2.5 million. He admitted that Marshall was his longtime friend and had issued the said cheque which was prematurely presented for payment although he and Rugiri were not acquaintances.

Marshall also admitted that he never met Rugiri and that the cheque was presented before time and when his bank informed him of the transaction, he stopped the payment. He said the Sh2.5 million was not part of the cheque issued as he did not authorize Rugiri to cash the cheque.

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In his judgment dated May 10, 2019, Senior Resident Magistrate J. Kasam said that Nzai was the principal debtor and absolved Mshaall from being liable as a guarantor.

"Furthermore, the agreement was partly honored when first defendant (Nzai) took upon himself to pay sh.100,000. In this case, I hold that the contract between Rugiri and Nzai was genuine, voluntarily and knowingly entered and judgment in favour of Rugiri is allowed against Nzai," said Kasam.

She went ahead to direct that Nzai pays Sh2.4 million plus interest on the principal sum at court rates from the date the suit was filed.