Julius Mwale, a Kenyan businessman who promotes himself as a self-made billionaire and the visionary behind the Mwale Medical and Technology City (MMTC) in Kakamega County, Kenya, is once again involved in a serious scandal.
This time, he is accused of defrauding Fiona Graham, a 95-year-old blind and partially deaf woman, of Ksh 466 million (approximately $3.6 million).
The alleged fraud, which came to light through court documents, paints a grim picture of manipulation, deceit, and financial ruin.
According to court filings made by Graham’s attorney, Julian H. Lowenfeld, in the New York Supreme Court on May 24, 2019as seen by leaked.co.ke, Mwale persuaded Graham to remortgage her properties under the guise of repayment promises that never materialized.
The documents reveal that Mwale signed a promissory note pledging to repay the amount with 8% annual interest by November 24, 2020.
However, instead of honoring his commitment, he left Graham in severe financial distress.
Graham, who initially trusted Mwale, was deceived into believing he had her best interests at heart.
Their relationship, which began when Mwale sought her psychiatric services, evolved into a close bond.
Mwale portrayed himself as a victim of political persecution in Kenya, recounting a dramatic tale of imprisonment and torture due to a dispute with then-President Moi.
This, coupled with his humble beginnings as a homeless immigrant in the U.S., drew Graham into his world.
She sympathized with him, offering him shelter in her Westchester property and financial assistance over the years.
However, as time passed, Mwale’s true colors began to show.
Graham now describes him as a “master manipulator” who exploited her generosity.
Despite signing multiple promissory notes and contracts, Mwale continuously avoided repayment, instead using Graham’s resources for his own gain.
He pawned her inherited jewelry under the pretense of evaluation and persuaded her to remortgage her largest properties.
These actions led to foreclosure and the complete destruction of her credit rating.
The scandal surrounding Mwale deepened earlier this month when Mat and Brooke Shaw, an American couple, sued Mwale, claiming they had been defrauded of Ksh 112 million after investing in his MMTC project.
During a visit to Kenya, the couple discovered that the project, once touted as a revolutionary smart city with the world’s largest hospital, was in a state of disrepair.
The hospital, allegedly worth over Ksh 200 billion, was nothing more than a shell, with only a small clinic operational, treating basic ailments like malaria.
The grand vision of a cancer treatment center and advanced medical facilities had not materialized.
These revelations have cast doubt on Mwale’s business ventures, which have long been shrouded in mystery and controversy.
Despite his claims of securing global investments and partnerships for MMTC, many of the companies cited have denied any involvement.
Additionally, contractors and suppliers working on MMTC have accused Mwale of failing to pay for their services, with total unpaid bills reportedly exceeding $2.5 million over the last 15 years.
Mwale, who previously made headlines in 2010 when he placed a multi-billion-shilling bid for Mumias Sugar, has also faced multiple lawsuits in both Kenya and the U.S.
In New York, he was sued in 2009 and 2010 for failing to pay rent for his company’s headquarters and for making unrealistic promises about investment returns.
His reputation as a visionary entrepreneur has been tarnished by these legal battles, which paint a picture of a man who makes lofty promises but fails to deliver.
Despite his claims of building a Silicon Valley in rural Kenya, Mwale’s MMTC project has remained largely a pipedream.
The promises of transforming Lunza village into a tech hub worth Sh 200 billion have yet to materialize, and the recent scandals have only further eroded public trust in his ventures.
As Mwale continues to face lawsuits and accusations of fraud, the question remains, Is he truly the billionaire visionary he claims to be, or merely a skilled manipulator who has left a trail of financial devastation in his wake? With mounting legal troubles and increasing public scrutiny, Julius Mwale’s once-untouchable image is rapidly crumbling.
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