Governor Mwangi Wa Iria is a troubled man after the anti-corruption agency won a case against him.
Yesterday, the High Court stopped him from selling two properties suspected to have been corruptly acquired.
Justice James Wakiaga yesterday barred the governor, Top Image Media Consultants, which is allegedly owned by Jane Mbuthia, and Value View Limited, whose directors are said to be Wa Iria’s wife and his brother-in-law, from having any dealings with property located in Umoja Innercore and 13 acres of land in Mweiga for six months.
In late 2020, the corrupt governor was summoned by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to answer to irregularilly awarding tenders for media advertising for the financial year 2014/2015.
“We are investigating allegations touching on your County Government, specifically on the provision of media advertising services in the financial years 2014/2015 and 2015/2016”, the letter dated 22nd October 2020, said in part.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) said Murang’a County irregularly awarded tenders to Top Image Media Consultants between 2013 and 2017 amounting to Sh542 million.
It is at this point that we introduce the real force behind the governor. They say, behind a successful man, there’s a woman. But they never tell what kind of a woman. Let’s just start by saying, it is pussy, the lack of it or more of it that has destroyed men throughout history.
It can be a force for good or a force for evil.
Jane Mbuthia, Governor’s mpango
Nothing can be done in Murang’a county without the input of Jane Mbuthia.
Ms Mbuthia, who illegally warms the governor’s bed, is the go-to-person if yu want to win tenders, want to be paid promptly for services rendered or want to be in good books with the governor in case your work is threatened.
Sources say, she is feared and loathed, no love exists between her and county staff, because she has been the end of many careers. She has been nicknamed ‘first lady’ because her influence knows no boundaries.
The former Capital FM journalist pulls the strings behind the scenes taking the responsibility of the county tender analyst, and awarder. She choses who is to be awarded tenders. But it is not for free, it is her who takes the kickbacks from contractors and sometimes speeds up payment that are late for a fee.
This has made her very rich. It is alleged that she owns palatial homes and drives in top-of the range vehicles.
“It is easy for you to lose your job when you go against Jane Mbuthia”, stated a source
Their love which started while WaIria was at New KCC as MD has seen them grow to Ms Mbuthia being entrusted with greater roles to play within the governor’s circle.
She campaigned for his reelection in 2017, dishing out money like njugu karanga to supporters and campaign agents.
The EACC investigation into the media tenders puts Jane Mbuthia squarely at a disadvantage as she is the sole provider of that service to the county since 2013 when WaIria came to power.
Ms Mbuthis owns Top Image Media Consultancy Limited.
At New KCC, the two worked together in New KCC whereby Wa Iria was the CEO/MD while Mbuthia worked as PR Manager.
So trusted and entrusted with the governor’s engagements such that her proximity to the County boss has always been a source of marital conflict between WaIria and his spouse Jane, an employee of National Bank of Kenya (NBK).
Moving on, Jane Mbuthia has a covert mandate to vet individuals and companies wishing to do business with Murang’a County government. Those firms that pass her test are used as a strategic conduit to award tenders to the governor’s preferred bidders. Once your firm passes this “informal test” you are assured to access contracts worth millions of shillings and payment promptly paid. It is a complex web of corruption that is well orchestrated to achieve a certain goal – enrich the governor and his cronies!
Dangerous encounter
It is said that Jane Mbuthia once got shot when she took her Madam Boss politics to the doorsteps of Benisa Construction Limited which had won a contract from the County demanding a SH25 million kickback.
This angered the governor so much that he cancelled further payments to the construction firm prompting the owner to send a gang of armed youths, some with pistols to him. The governor put his tail between his legs, shaken.
ARMED YOUTHS raid Muranga Governor Mwangi wa Iria Gatanga residence serving as elections monitoring centre, governor and police confirm. pic.twitter.com/GyonrCMUbB
— Nation Breaking News (@NationBreaking) April 23, 2017
Known looters
Mwang’s looting career didn’t start at Murang’a county, he always stole from his employers.
WaIria was once employed as by Equity founder Peter Munga as CEO at Freshco Seeds Ltd. The new CEO amassed wealth in such a short time.
It is also important to note that at New KCC, both WIria and Ms Mbthia were over allegations of corruption by Kibaki government. Then Cooperatives Minister Joe Njagah once accused him of misleading President Mwai Kibaki to believe that New KCC was commercially dead so that it could be sold to strategic investors, who it turned out were businessmen close to Wa Iria and Jane Mbuthia.
When Mwangi wa Iria was fired from KCC by the late Mr Joe Nyaga, Jane Mbuthia was also exited with him. She started a business where she was buying milk from farmers to process and sell. She couldn’t hack it and she closed the business disappearing with farmers money only to reappear in Muranga County
