Esbon Wamathu Wandugo, Albert Kiptanui Kosgei, Mary Wamoyo Muriuki and Godfrey Otieno Owino, employees of Kaluworks Limited, are now staring at serious criminal charges after prosecutors linked them to a Ksh31 million internal fraud and suspected money laundering scheme.
They appeared in court. Calm. Silent.
But the figures read out were anything but small.
Ksh31 Million Trail Uncovered
According to investigators, Esbon Wamathu Wandugo, Albert Kiptanui Kosgei, Mary Wamoyo Muriuki and Godfrey Otieno Owino allegedly engineered a sustained syphoning operation that ran from January 2024 to September 2025 within Makadara, Nairobi.
The amount in question? Ksh31,053,520.
Detectives say the quartet, all entrusted with financial responsibilities at the company, exploited internal systems to move money quietly and repeatedly. This was not a one-off withdrawal. It was, investigators claim, a methodical bleed.
How the Scheme Allegedly Worked
Investigators allege the four manipulated payment vouchers, ledger entries and cashbooks by leaving out key details and altering financial records. Critical particulars were reportedly omitted. Entries were adjusted. The company’s true financial position, detectives argue, was distorted.
The result? Unauthorised withdrawals masked as legitimate transactions.
Was it oversight or deliberate concealment?
Authorities believe deception was central to the operation. By falsifying internal documentation, the suspects allegedly created room to move funds without triggering immediate alarm within the firm’s accounting structure.
Money Laundering Angle: The “Layering” Question
Once the funds were allegedly syphoned, detectives say the money did not sit idle.
Investigations indicate the cash was reportedly channelled into personal accounts and third-party bank accounts. That movement, authorities argue, was designed to disguise the origin and ownership of the funds, a classic layering tactic frequently cited in money laundering probes.
The prosecution is not just treating this as workplace theft. It has invoked the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (POCAMLA), escalating the matter beyond internal misconduct into a broader financial crime case.
Charges and Court Orders
The four face multiple counts, including:
Money laundering contrary to Section 3(a) as read with Section 16 of POCAMLA
Acquisition of proceeds of crime under Section 4(a) of the same Act
Stealing by servant under Section 281 of the Penal Code
False accounting by a servant under Section 330 of the Penal Code
The court released each accused on a cash bail of Ksh500,000 with one surety of a similar amount. Alternatively, they may execute a bond of Ksh3 million.
The case is scheduled for mention on March 5, 2026, for pretrial directions.
