The ongoing investigations targeting nine companies cited by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for suspected involvement in money laundering and fraud at the Nairobi County government has been thrust into a spin after it emerged that two directors owning one of the flagged firms have no identified nationality, investigations by The Informer Media Group have revealed.
Mitesh Shah Mahendrakumar and Jagat Shah Mahendrakumar, two of the listed six directors of AR Pharmaceutical Limited each holding 500 shares in the company have no known nationality.
According to our investigations, contrary to the law, their nationality in the company ownership has been filed as “not applicable”.
Records show their other four directors; Sylvia Wambui Kamunyu, Miranda Njeri Gathiru, Keval Dilipbhai Patel and Bhagyeshkumar Shah have been listed as directors but hold zero shares.
Additionally, the nationality of Patel and Bhagyeshkumar has been recorded as India.
Further, one Lina Arunkumar Kantaria has been listed as the secretary of AR Pharmaceutical Limited.
Through a letter dated July 21, 2023, the DCI Director Mohamed Amin through the head of Investigations Bureau at the DCI headquarters David Birech wrote to City Hall demanding a list of tender documents, requisitions by user department, award contracts, delivery and inspection reports and all local purchase orders issued to profiled nine companies believed to have been used to siphon the money.
Impeccable sources at the DCI revealed investigations are underway to uncover loss of hundreds of millions paid to companies that never supplied any goods or services.
Among other companies under probe include Ramecon Engineering Limited owned by Phoebe Kanini Kimasyu while Walter Zakayo Kilonzi has been listed as the secretary and Burasha General Supplies Limited owned by Mariam Buraq Hassan and Eva Wairimu Kimani as directors each holding 500 shares.
Others are; Tweem Limited owned by Monica Kalondu Wambua and Purity Ntinyari each holding 50 shares, Cloud Mobile Technologies Limited owned by Rhoda Mwende Ndolo, Martin Mwangi, Geoffrey Osano Kerage and Henry Mwaniki Mburu each holding 700, 50, 150 and 100 shares respectively.
Further, Future Link Limited owned by Benard Ochieng Onyuna Lucas Zachaeus Odhiambo is also under DCI’s radar. According to records seen by us, Ochieng holds 1 share while Zachaeus holds 999 shares.
Also, Larsen Investments Company Limited owned Hassan Alio Ahamed has also been cited as one of the companies under investigations. One Michael King’ori has been listed as the secretary in the company.
Other companies under the detectives’ radar are Instabul Investment Limited and Brigit West Limited.
According to the DCI, the nine listed firms are believed to have been used in suspected money laundering scheme and fraudulent payments for services not rendered.
“This office is investigating a case of suspected money laundering in which Nairobi County Government is alleged to have fraudulently made payments to companies which did not render services.” A terse letter from the DCI addressed to the Nairobi County Secretary reads in part.
It is said to be a well weaved deal in which sector heads in Nairobi county government connive with procurement officers, contractors and the County Treasury officials to siphon hundreds of millions from the public coffers.
The letter from DCI was received at the Office of the County Secretary on July 24, 2023.
When contacted, none nine of the nine companies; Larsen Investment Company, Burasha General Suppliers Limited, Tweem Limited and Future Link Limited, Cloud Mobile Technologies Limited, AR Pharmaceuticals Limited, Instabul Investment Limited, Ramecon Engineering Limited and Brigit West Limited was available for comment to either mail or short text messages sent to them by The Informer Media Group.
