A Kenyan businessman, Kirimi Koome, has been charged with conspiracy to defraud a Rwandan national of Ksh.391 million.

Mr Kirimi Koome is accused of scheming to defraud Desire Muhinyuza, a Rwandese national and the beneficial owner of Stay Online Limited, of USD 2,619,583.27 in merchant funds by falsely claiming to own the money.

PHOTO | COURTESY Businessman Kirimi Koome

He is accused of committing the crime on several dates between July 10 and October 4, 2023, in Nairobi, in collaboration with people who are not in court, with the purpose of deception.

Koome is also accused of stealing Ksh.14,945,000 (USD 100,000) in Stay Online Limited property entrusted to him to pay provisional taxes for the company.

He is also charged with putting a fake entry in a document for a payment of USD 100,000 (9ksh.14 million) to his Equity Bank USD Account and providing false information to the police.

PHOTO | COURTESY Businessman Kirimi Koome

Before Magistrate Lukas Onyina, he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution did not oppose his bail, but the complainant requested that the court consider the impact of the case on other investors.

"We hope that when imposing the bond terms, the image of the bank....the merchants whose money was swindled... and the source of that money be considered." Consider the impact on international investors," lawyer Dunstan Omari suggested.

The court upheld the previous monetary bail of Ksh.500,000 with two sureties of the same amount.

The issue will be discussed on November 23.