Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang Admits Guilt in Fraud Case, Seeks Restitution Deal

Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang has admitted in a Nairobi court to defrauding a businessman of Sh25 million in a high-profile tender fraud case and is now seeking to repay the money in exchange for his freedom.

The controversial senator’s legal team has advised him to pursue restitution after evidence against him proved overwhelming, according to sources familiar with the case.

Chesang has been linked to alleged money laundering and other fraudulent activities for years, including multiple high-profile scams involving fake tenders and gold fraud schemes.

In this particular case, he faces charges related to a Sh25 million Department of Defense fake tender fraud, among other gold-related cases.

This is not the first time Senator Chesang has faced serious fraud allegations. His name has been connected to several major scams over recent years:

Sh180 Million Laptop Scam (2018)

In 2023, a Nairobi court heard testimony that Chesang was involved in a fake Sh180 million laptop tender allegedly connected to President William Ruto’s office when he served as Deputy President.

The scheme involved defrauding Makindu Motors of 2,800 laptops worth Sh269.36 million that were supposedly meant for distribution to primary schools under the government’s laptop program.

The contract was reportedly signed at Ruto’s office, with fraudsters posing as government officials to receive the laptops before disappearing without payment.

Billion-Shilling Gold Scam (2023)

Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang In a past event.

In September 2023, Chesang was implicated in a Sh1 billion gold fraud scheme targeting a Tunisian businessman.

The operation involved fake gold and counterfeit US dollars, with suspects arrested at an upscale Nairobi estate.

The scam required the victim to pay Sh400 million to view the gold and an additional Sh600 million after verification – money that would never be returned as the gold was fake.

He denied the claims and sued blogger Cyprian Nyakundi and Weekly Citizen magazine for publishing the story.

Runda Gold Scam (October 2023)

The DCI arrested three suspects connected to another gold scam with alleged links to Senator Chesang.

The suspects – Fauzia Wanjiru, Shallo Fatma, and Jackson Ochieng – targeted South African national Ralph Manyaka, demanding Sh5.3 million to release a purported 30-kilogram gold consignment from customs.

Police recovered counterfeit US dollars, gold melting equipment, and fake mineral export permits during the operation.

Court proceedings

The senator filed an application to have charges withdrawn, stating his willingness to pay Sh17 million that was deposited in his account and implicated him in the matter.

Trial Magistrate Dolphina Alego directed Chesang to repay the money and report back to the court.

The magistrate also ordered the complainant to appear in court on May 7 to confirm receipt of payment.

However, the complainant informed the court that he had not received the full amount from the senator.

Chesang countered that he had made the payment through the complainant’s lawyer.

The magistrate has directed the investigating officer to conduct an inquiry into the alleged transactions to establish the true position of the matter.

The charges

Chesang is charged alongside six co-accused: Clifford Okoth Ongugo (alias Victor Wandera), David Kahi Ambuku, Cliff Moseti Obwogi, Boniface Kamau Macharia, Ellyshah Onyango Oswago, and Esther Kalungu Ngotho.

The seven defendants are accused of conspiring to steal Sh25,950,000 from Wil Developers and Construction Limited.

They allegedly claimed the payment was for 175,000 jute gunny bags delivered to the Department of Defense under Contract Reference No. MODP/SUPPLS/0451-270/2017-18/SP.

The alleged offense occurred between December 28, 2017, and March 22, 2018, in Nairobi.

The accused are also charged with obtaining Sh25 million from Johnson Wambua Mwanzia by falsely claiming they had secured a tender to supply jute gunny bags to the Department of Defense.

Additional charges include forgery and uttering forged documents.