The High Court has ruled that Deepak Kamani, Rashmi Kamani, and former Permanent Secretaries Dave Mwangi, Joseph Magari, and Joseph Onyonka must now defend themselves in court over their role in the Sh3.5 billion Anglo Leasing scandal.
This new ruling was made on July 31, 2025, and it cancels the previous acquittals that were made in 2023 and 2024.
The court believes there is now enough evidence to put them on trial and answer to charges of conspiracy to defraud the Kenyan government.This case is one of the biggest corruption scandals in Kenya’s history.
It started in the early 2000s when the government signed contracts with companies linked to the Kamani family to supply security equipment.
The equipment was never delivered, but large payments were made. Deepak and Rashmi Kamani were accused of setting up companies like Sound Day Limited to receive these payments.
The former PSs were accused of approving the deals even though there was no money set aside in the budget for them. This led to the government losing billions of shillings.
Justice Benjamin Musyoki, who delivered the latest ruling, said that the Director of Public Prosecutions had now presented strong evidence showing that a crime may have been committed.
The court heard that there was no proper budget for the security project, and that several witnesses had confirmed that no equipment was ever received. The financial records also show that the Kamani brothers were paid through companies like Apex Finance Corporation.
The court wants them to explain how they received the money and what services, if any, were provided in return.
The court also found it suspicious that the main police officer who was supposed to receive the equipment, Edwin Nyasenda, was never called to testify. Even without his statement, the testimonies of other witnesses were enough to convince the court that the earlier ruling needed to be overturned.
As a result, the case will now go back to the Milimani Anti-corruption chief magistrate court for a full hearing where the accused will have to present their defense.
This decision has been seen by many as a positive move in Kenya’s fight against corruption. It shows that even powerful and well-connected people can still be brought back to court if there is enough evidence.
Majority of Kenyans have lost trust in the justice system because of how slowly corruption cases move and how often the accused walk free.
This ruling could help rebuild some of that trust. However, it also shows how complex these cases are, especially when they involve high-level officials and international financial dealings.
The Anglo Leasing scandal has haunted Kenya for years. The public has been demanding justice, and this ruling brings some hope that the truth may finally come out.
The court must ensure that all facts are considered, and the accused must be given a fair chance to explain themselves.
Add Comment