The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) obtained orders last month to freeze former Nyandarua county government Finance Chief Officer’s accounts after the agency told Justice Mumbi Ngugi that the ex-CFO had embezzled Sh115 million and acquired property worth Sh181 million in three years.
Among the properties Kuria is said to have irregularly acquired include two pieces of land in Lanet, Nakuru County, five plots in Dagoretti, Nairobi County, two plots in Kikuyu, two plots in Limuru and another within Kiambu town.
According to EACC lawyer Pius Nyoike, it was not possible for Kuria to purchase the 12 plots worth Sh181 million between January 2014 and December 2017 using his modest salary as a CFO.
To add more trouble to the family, the Kenya Revenue Authority arraigned Mr Kuria, 37, together with his wife Catherine Wanjiku, his mother Agnes Wanjiku Kuria and business associate Henry Njoroge Gathiga at a Nyeri court for failing to pay taxes between 2014 and 2018, the charge sheets indicated and were released on a bond of Sh10 million each after denying 58 charges related to tax evasion of Sh116 million.
Mr Kuria, who recently shot in the public limelight after the anti-corruption commission started investigating him on allegations of embezzling close to Sh300 million form the devolved unit, said he is diabetic and is due for treatment next month in Canada.
Mr Kuria, his wife Catherine Wanjiku Njeri, mother Agnes Wanjiku Kuria and business associate Henry Njoroge Gathiga were also dispossessed of four top-of-the-range vehicles.
The court heard that they were using the companies to do business with the county government but failed to pay the corporation tax, income tax, the value added tax and pay-as-you-earn tax.
However, the four denied the charges before Senior Resident Magistrate Nelly Kariuki and sought to be released on bond on grounds of their ill health condition and that they have children.
The case will be heard in two different courts on June 10 and 12.