Ex- Muranga Governor wa Iria secures court order to bar arrest

Former Murang'a Governor Mwangi wa Iria. [File, Standard]

Former Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria has obtained a High Court conservatory order barring the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) from arresting him and six others linked to the Sh140 million tender publicity saga.

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives had earlier arrested wa Iria’s spouse, Jane Waigwe, and his brother-in-law Solomon Mutura.

The order by Justice Cecilia Githua of Murang’a High Court, restrained the DPP, Inspector General of Police, DCI, and EACC from arresting the former County Chief and his accomplices as directed in a correspondence by DPP dated April 13.

"The matter will be mentioned before Justice James Wakiaga on April 23,” ruled Githua.

In a dramatic event, the court order was collected by a private chopper at Mumbi grounds after it emerged that Mrs Iria had been arraigned in court alongside her brother, Mutura, and pleaded they be given an hour to deliver a certified court order.

A letter by the DPP on April 13, directed the former Murang’a Governor, former County Secretary Partick Mukuria, his former Personal assistant Muturi Karanja, business persons Jane Mbuthia, David Maina, and Mutura to report to EACC Headquarters in Nairobi.

The DPP stated that a decision has been made to charge them with procurement irregularities amounting to Sh140 million.

“This follows investigations by EACC on procurement irregularities and conflict of interest in the award of the publicity tender by the Murang’a County to Top Image Media Consultancy.”