Michael Moragia Nyachae, the son of the late former Cabinet Minister Simeon Nyachae, has found himself before a Nairobi court over a Sh1.2 million theft case involving a company linked to his family.
Nyachae appeared before Magistrate Caroline Nyaguthie and denied the charge, setting the stage for a court battle over Sh1,226,036 said to have belonged to Sansora Group Limited.
The charge relates to transactions said to have taken place on different dates between March 28, 2019, and September 28, 2021, in Kisii County.
The prosecution has charged Nyachae under Section 268(1), read together with Section 275 of the Penal Code.
According to the charge sheet, the money in question was the property of Sansora Group Limited. The case now places Nyachae, a member of one of Kenya’s well-known political families, at the centre of a legal dispute involving a company that his lawyers described as a family business.
During the court session, Nyachae’s lawyers moved quickly to seek his release on bail after he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The defence team asked the magistrate to use her discretion and grant Nyachae favourable bail terms. His lawyer pointed to his family background while making the request, telling the court that Nyachae comes from a distinguished family.
The defence further described the case as “smoke without fire”, maintaining that the circumstances surrounding the matter needed to be considered carefully.
The lawyers also told the court that Sansora Group Limited, the company named in the charge sheet, is a family company.
This aspect is expected to form part of the arguments as the case proceeds through the court process.
The Sh1.2 million figure has placed the case under scrutiny because of the long period covered by the charge. The transactions cited in court span more than two years, from 2019 to 2021.
However, the court has not made a determination on Nyachae’s guilt. His plea of not guilty means the prosecution will have to present evidence to prove its case as the proceedings continue.
Magistrate Caroline Nyaguthie directed that the matter be mentioned on September 29 for pre-trial directions.
The court will use the session to guide the next stage of the case and address the issues that need to be settled before the hearing begins.
In the meantime, Nyachae has been released on bond of Sh200,000 or a cash bail of Sh50,000.
The case adds a new legal chapter to the Nyachae family, which has for decades remained a notable name in Kenya’s political and business circles.
Simeon Nyachae, who died in 2021, served in senior government positions and was a prominent figure in Kenyan politics.
For Michael Moragia Nyachae, the immediate focus is now on defending himself against the criminal charge as the matter moves through the courts.
