Nine of the 36 accused persons charged over alleged fraudulent disbursement of Sh1.57 billion appear before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi on August 19, 2026. /LEAH MUKANGAINine suspects have been charged at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi over the alleged misappropriation of Sh1.57 billion from the Programme for Rural Outreach of Financial Innovation and Technology (PROFIT).
The nine were arraigned before Magistrate Rose Ndombi on Wednesday, August 19, a day after the Director of Public Prosecutions approved charges against them following their arrest by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The charge sheet contains allegations ranging from abuse of office and unlawful acquisition of public property to acquisition of proceeds of crime and money laundering.
The case centres on funds held in accounts operated under the PROFIT programme.
Investigators allege that funds intended for programme activities were diverted to private individuals and businesses for services not rendered.
The nine suspects are Jospat Kamau, James Omwodo, Jimmy Carter, Ian Kwemoi, Brian Kiprop, Gladys Juliet, John Maina, Nemwel Moturi and John Ngure.
They are among 36 individuals and entities whom the EACC has accused of orchestrating a fraudulent disbursement scheme involving Sh1,569,582,338.20 meant for small-scale farmers under the IFAD-funded PROFIT Programme.
John Ngure Kabutha
Ngure, identified as the PROFIT programme coordinator, faces multiple counts of abuse of office.
The prosecution alleges that between June 2019 and June 2022, he used his office to improperly confer benefits by authorising payments from the programme's account.
The amounts cited in the charges include Sh31.17 million, Sh40.13 million, Sh5.75 million, Sh6.75 million, Sh66.19 million, Sh11.97 million, Sh9.61 million, Sh8.73 million, Sh41.24 million, Sh2.36 million, Sh3.72 million, Sh49.24 million, Sh79.98 million, Sh2.38 million and Sh799.84 million.
The charges allege that the payments resulted in improper benefits being conferred on private entities or individuals.
James Omwodo Ndai
Omwodo, listed as a sole proprietor of several businesses, faces counts of unlawful acquisition of public property, acquisition of proceeds of crime and money laundering.
The charge sheet alleges that he unlawfully acquired Sh49.24 million, Sh8.73 million and Sh43.60 million from the PROFIT account for services that were not rendered.
He also faces charges relating to Sh5.73 million, Sh14.41 million and Sh16.05 million allegedly acquired from the programme's account between October 2022 and December 2023.
The prosecution alleges that the money was obtained for services not rendered and that Omwodo knew or had reason to believe some of it was proceeds of crime.
He also faces a money-laundering charge involving Sh5.95 million, which the prosecution alleges was transacted while he knew or had reason to believe it was proceeds of crime.
Jimmy Carter Odoyo Osodo
Carter faces counts of unlawful acquisition of public property and acquisition of proceeds of crime.
The charge sheet alleges that he unlawfully acquired Sh1.31 million from PROFIT funds for services that were not rendered.
A second count alleges that he acquired the same Sh1.31 million while knowing or having reason to believe that the money formed part of, or was the proceeds of, crime.
Ian Kwemoi Chepkarat
Kwemoi faces counts of unlawful acquisition of public property and acquisition of proceeds of crime.
He is jointly charged over an alleged acquisition of Sh5.96 million from PROFIT funds for services not rendered.
He also faces charges relating to Sh79.98 million and Sh23.40 million allegedly acquired from PROFIT funds for services not rendered.
The prosecution further alleges that Kwemoi knew or had reason to believe that the Sh23.40 million was proceeds of crime.
Another set of charges concerns Sh8.08 million allegedly acquired for services not rendered and subsequently treated as proceeds of crime.
Brian Kiprop Chepkarat
Chepkarat faces multiple counts of unlawful acquisition of public property and acquisition of proceeds of crime.
The prosecution alleges that he unlawfully acquired Sh66.19 million from PROFIT funds for services not rendered.
He is also jointly charged over alleged acquisitions of Sh5.96 million, Sh79.98 million and Sh23.40 million.
Other charges concern Sh8.08 million and Sh7.76 million.
The prosecution alleges that the amounts were acquired from PROFIT funds for services not rendered and, in the latter case, that Chepkarat knew or had reason to believe the money was proceeds of crime.
Gladys Juliet Oroni
Gladys faces counts of unlawful acquisition of public property, acquisition of proceeds of crime and multiple money-laundering offences.
The charge sheet alleges that she unlawfully acquired Sh73.81 million, Sh41.15 million and Sh71.43 million from PROFIT funds for services not rendered.
She also faces money-laundering charges involving Sh9.99 million, Sh14.67 million and Sh14.38 million.
Further charges allege transactions involving Sh23.40 million, Sh8.08 million, Sh9.76 million, Sh3.39 million, Sh6.73 million, Sh14.41 million, Sh3.51 million, Sh3.41 million, Sh3.39 million, Sh3.61 million and Sh4.96 million.
The prosecution alleges in the various counts that the money was proceeds of crime and was transferred or transacted in a manner intended to conceal its nature.
The charge sheet contains additional money-laundering allegations involving Sh13 million, Sh11.75 million, Sh14.05 million, Sh950,000 and Sh900,000 in transactions allegedly undertaken between 2022 and 2025.
Nemwel Moturi Motanya
Moturi, identified as a Senior Assistant Accountant General at the National Treasury, faces one count of abuse of office.
The prosecution alleges that between August 1 and October 26, 2022, he irregularly authorised the creation of banking arrangements for PROFIT, an action that allegedly led to a loss of Sh175.30 million.
The charge alleges that he used his office to improperly confer a benefit to two individuals and occasion the loss of the funds.
John Maina Muriithi
Maina, identified as a Senior Accountant at the National Treasury, faces one count of abuse of office.
The prosecution alleges that between August 1 and October 26, 2022, he used his office to improperly confer a benefit and occasion a loss of Sh175.30 million through actions relating to PROFIT funds.
Jospat Kamau
Kamau faces counts of unlawful acquisition of public property and acquisition of proceeds of crime.
The charge sheet alleges that between October 18, 2022 and December 14, 2023, he unlawfully acquired Sh5.30 million from PROFIT funds for services not rendered.
The prosecution alleges that he acquired the money while knowing or having reason to believe that it formed part of or was proceeds of crime.
The charges against the nine form part of a wider investigation into the alleged loss of Sh1.57 billion from the PROFIT programme.
The charge sheet also contains allegations of forgery, financial misconduct and the unauthorised opening of an account.
However, those allegations relate to suspects who were not among the nine arraigned on Wednesday.
All the accused are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of law.
Nine of the 36 accused persons charged over alleged fraudulent disbursement of Sh1.57 billion accompanied by police officers ahead of their arraignment at Milimani Anti-Corruption court in Nairobi on August 19, 2026. /LEAH MUKANGAI
