The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has arraigned two more suspects in connection with the alleged Sh1.5 billion fraud involving the Programme for Rural Outreach of Financial Innovation & Technology (PROFIT).
Charles Cheruiyot Maiyo, a director of Kaplan Logistics Ltd, and Auma Ritah Otieno, the sole proprietor of Ritasshell Enterprises, appeared before the Anti-Corruption Chief Magistrate’s Court for plea taking.
The two suspects, together with their respective companies, face three counts each of unlawful acquisition of public property, acquisition of proceeds of crime and money laundering.
The prosecution told the court that Maiyo allegedly unlawfully acquired Sh4,960,310 from a Kenya Commercial Bank account held in the name of PROFIT for services allegedly not rendered.
He is further accused of acquiring the funds knowing, or having reason to believe, that they constituted proceeds of crime.
Otieno is similarly accused of unlawfully acquiring Sh3,412,300 from the PROFIT account for services allegedly not rendered and acquiring the funds knowing, or having reason to believe, that they were proceeds of crime.
The two accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution, led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Susan Kelly and Principal Prosecution Counsel Faith Mwila, did not oppose their release on bond but asked the court to impose terms commensurate with the seriousness of the charges.
The prosecution also sought orders requiring the accused to surrender their passports, remain within the court’s jurisdiction and refrain from interfering with witnesses.
The defence sought lenient terms, citing the suspects’ voluntary surrender and arguing that they were not directly involved in the alleged offences. Maiyo’s lawyer also opposed the surrender of his passport, citing his frequent business travel.
After considering the submissions, the court granted each accused a bond of Sh1.5 million with a surety of a similar amount or an alternative cash bail of Sh600,000.
The court further directed the accused to deposit their passports by close of business on August 24, 2026, attend court physically unless otherwise directed and refrain from interfering with witnesses.
The matter will be mentioned on September 2, 2026.
