A director of OKI General Trading Limited, Honey Khatwani, has been arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi over allegations of defrauding his own company of more than Ksh.356 million. The charges were read before Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego on Monday.
What are the details of the fraud charges?
According to court documents, Khatwani is accused of stealing $2,786,174.40 (approximately Ksh.356,711,174.40) from the company between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2024. The alleged theft is said to have taken place in Barbado, Nairobi County, where OKI General Trading Limited operates.
Khatwani pleaded not guilty to the charges. His legal team, led by lawyer Kennedy Echesa, requested the court to grant him lenient bail terms, emphasizing that he has strong family ties in Kenya and does not pose a flight risk. “The accused is innocent until proven otherwise, and we urge the court to consider this while determining the bond terms,” Echesa told the court.
What was the prosecution’s response?
The prosecution strongly objected to any lenient bond conditions, citing the serious nature of the allegations and the large sum of money involved. They argued that the accused could easily flee the country and requested the court to order the immediate surrender of his travel documents.
In response, Khatwani’s legal team pointed out that he had already been granted a Ksh.200,000 cash bail upon arrest and asked the court to retain those terms. They also reminded the court that the accused had complied with all requirements since his arrest.
Did Khatwani raise any other concerns?
During the hearing, Khatwani informed the court that he was unwell and requested to be taken to Avenue Hospital for medical treatment. The court is expected to rule on the bail application and medical request in the coming sessions.
The case has drawn significant public attention due to the rare nature of a company director being charged with defrauding his own business. The court proceedings will continue as investigations unfold.
By Risper Akinyi
