William Kabogo, the newly appointed Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications, and The Digital Economy, has emphasized the importance of responsible social media use.
Kabogo highlighted the dangers of misusing the internet, including the spread of hate speech and explicit content. He stressed the need for a balance between freedom of expression and ethical internet use, urging Kenyans to engage responsibly online.
“Let us be responsible when using social media. We don’t want to think about switching off people because the capacity is there. Instead of putting me in a coffin and displaying me out there, why don’t you just tell me what you want.” he said.
His assertions comes when a social media user Jackson Kuria, alias Cop Shakur was charged with posting false information linking President Ruto to abductions, he also explicitly posted a photo of the president in a coffin.
Kabogo further warned that as much as there is freedom of expression, it should not interfere with other people’s freedoms.
Kabogo on gagging people
The businessman-cum politician also maintained that he would not gag people from saying what they want as long as they are responsible.
“I would want us to be responsible on social media. Instead of putting me in a coffin and displaying me out there, why don’t you just tell me what you want? Why can’t we have a conversation between yourselves and us? We also know that Kenya has freedom of expression but that freedom is limited to the extent it does not interfere with other people’s freedoms. As long as we understand that is the rule of the game, let us have fun,” Kabogo noted.
“I am not one who would want to gag people from saying what they would want to say, as long as what they are saying is responsible.”
Kabogo’s remarks come amid online criticisms of President William Ruto’s administration.
Sensitisation campaign
Speaking in Nairobi on Saturday, January 18, when he officially took over from Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi who had been serving as the Acting ICT CS since December 2024 following a cabinet reshuffle, Kabogo noted that his ministry would undertake a sensitisation campaign to raise awareness on data privacy protections, among other critical digital-space rights.
He gave an assurance that these efforts would not be undertaken with the aim of curtailing freedom of expression, emphasizing that the objective was to promote responsible and respectful online conduct.
“The minute you put someone in a coffin and depict someone in a coffin. It may be fun at your age of 20…what happens when you are 42 and your son is 19 or 20 and someone puts you or depicts you in a coffin. It will not be fun for your children….We should be able to talk to our children and to each other and understand that this field is good. Information is power but let us do things responsibly. We have laws that govern misuse and abuse of this platform,” he said.
ICT Cabinet Secretary nominee William Kabogo surprised the National Assembly Committee on Appointments on Tuesday, after declaring his net worth to be Sh3.01 billion.
Kabogo broke down his assets, stating they include residential houses valued at Sh700 million, movable assets worth Sh40 million, land and farms totaling Sh756 million, and cash and current assets amounting to Sh64 million.
He also disclosed interests and shares valued at Sh1.5 billion.
“In total, I am worth Sh3.01 billion. This includes a helicopter I previously owned but later sold,” Kabogo said.
Kabogo, who served as Kiambu County’s first governor, ranks second among the wealthiest Cabinet Secretary nominees publicly vetted so far, following Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs nominee Hassan Joho, who declared a net worth of Sh2 billion.
Joho attributed his wealth to developed and undeveloped properties, including homes in Mombasa, Vipingo, Malindi, and Nairobi, as well as shareholding in property holdings, family businesses, valuables, and cash.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi remains the wealthiest Cabinet Secretary, having declared a net worth of Sh4 billion, primarily derived from investments in company shares and real estate.
Information Communications and Technology and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary nominee William Kabogo says he was exonerated from drug trafficking allegations following investigations into a dossier issued by the American Embassy in 2010 to the then Anti-Corruption Commission.
The drug trafficking claims resurfaced during Kabogo’s vetting before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments. National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed raised concerns regarding the matter, prompting Kabogo to address the allegations.
Kabogo criticized the dossier, asserting that it lacked substantive evidence to implicate him and others named in the report, including Mining CS Hassan Joho, former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, and former Kilome MP Haron Mwau.
“I have never, ever dealt with drugs of any kind in my life, and this is a very disturbing subject. I invite Kenyans to review the dossier that Mr. Saitoti brought to the House. If it were given to Inspector Mwangi, it would not even pass as a credible script,” he remarked.
The former Kiambu Governor emphasized that investigations conducted by security agencies, whose findings were tabled in Parliament, cleared him of any involvement in drug trafficking.
“The government and its agencies, including the police, carried out a thorough investigation and presented a report a month later. That report, which is part of this House’s records, found that I was not culpable. I have never been involved in drug trafficking,” Kabogo affirmed.
Kabogo lamented the damage caused by the dossier and subsequent media reports, which he said had tarnished his reputation and character.He noted that he had successfully sought court orders to halt defamatory publications.
He also revealed that some Kenyans had compared him to Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria, the infamous Colombian drug lord and leader of the Medellín Cartel.
“So many authors of these allegations probably didn’t achieve what they intended, but they succeeded in tarnishing people’s names. That is the situation today. People refer to me as Pablo, among other names,” Kabogo lamented.
Mercy Keino
Meanwhile, Kabogo has maintained his innocence in the tragic death of university student Mercy Keino in June 2011.
Responding to a question posed by Teso South MP Mary Emase over his alleged role in the incident, Kabogo maintained that he had no part in Keino’s demise.
“It is alleged that I had invited people to a party, Mr. Speaker. That is not true. This was simply a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time,” Kabogo said, referring to the incident that occurred in 2011 at a restaurant.
Kabogo who was speaking when he appeared before Committee on Appointments, emphasized that the venue was a public space, and there were several groups present on that fateful day.
The former Kiambu Governor further explained that he did not learn of Keino’s death until two weeks after she had been buried.
“Even if I had met her the following day after that hotel or restaurant, I would never have noticed her,” Kabogo stated.
He expressed his deep sympathy for the Keino family, acknowledging the pain caused by the tragedy.
The issue of Mercy Keino’s death had been the subject of an inquest, which was held at the Milimani Magistrates Court.
Kabogo, who was serving as Governor at the time, clarified that he had willingly participated in the legal proceedings.
“I was Governor, but I managed to be able to sit in there for 6 days for cross- examination,” Kabogo noted.
He emphasized that the court’s judgment, which took approximately a year and a half to conclude, exonerated him.
The ruling determined that Keino’s death was a result of a hit-and-run incident involving a truck, not the actions of any of the people present at the restaurant.
Kabogo further recounted his engagement with Keino’s father when the distressing video footage related to the incident was played in the court.
“I was urging Mercy Keino’s father not to watch those videos because they were very difficult for any parent to witness,” Kabogo said.
Kabogo expressed his heartfelt condolences for the loss of Mercy Keino, saying, “It is a sad story. I sympathize with the family and may her soul rest in peace.”
He also held out hope for eventual justice, saying, “I am certain that as a God-fearing person, I believe that one day, the truck driver or whoever it is that was in the truck that killed Mercy Keino will come out and say, ‘Unfortunately, I kept quiet but I did it.’ I hope that day will come,” he said.
Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo has been accused of bulldozing a property takeover scheme by one of his tenants.
William Gathecha who filmed an ordeal with the former Governor in a viral video, claims he’s been frustrated by the governor whom he bought a property from in what he sees as a wider scheme to throw him out of the property that according to him, has fully been paid for.
Speaking in the matter, Gathecha’s wife Njeri narrates how the couple’s dream of owning a home in the leafy neighborhood in Kiambu has turned into a nightmare as their landlord (Kabogo) has been giving them hell.
“My name is Njeri. I’m married to William Gathecha. We have always had an ambitious goal to own a house.”
“Other than raise our large family, the house had to be in a serene area as it’d be our retirement home. We have spent decades actively working towards this dream.”
“In 2021, we learnt of Iguta Paradise Homes, a housing development in Runda, along Kiambu Road. It consists of 4-bedroom units sitting on a 1/4 acre of land.”
Njeri clarifies that they made full payments and thereby legally own the house.
“We made the booking, paid relevant deposits and later completed the payments. Due to the excitement of achieving home ownership – we were the first clients to move in – even before completion of the houses.”
Genesis of troubles
She claims all has been well with the former governor but troubles started when Kabogo supposedly had a change of heart on realizing they had acquired themselves the most serene life and view of the mega property.
“Over the years, we have enjoyed a cordial personal and business relations with former governor William Kabogo – so it did not raise alarm for the delay in the processing of the lease.” She said.
“Around this time, my husband Gathecha was elected Chairman of the Iguta Residents Association.”
“Our house overlooks a natural pond – which, as the development continued – revealed a stunning lake view which had not occurred to the owner before the construction begun.”
“It is for this reason that former governor William Kabogo developed malicious interest to repossess our house.”
Harassment
Ms Njeri claim the former governor hatched an elaborate plan to kick them out of the property and subjected them to a systematic harassment.
“On 31st October 2023, the first of many incidences occurred in the systemic abuse, harassment, intimidation and outright violence to make us vacate.”
“The first was triggered by a fumigation exercise – no notice was issued – which endagered my children, staff and pets. I received calls that dangerous chemicals were being sprayed all over the property.”
“My husband Gathecha reached out to Kabogo with an inquiry. The response was hostile. On this date, my husband was seriously assaulted by Kabogo and his bodyguards.”
The incident was reported to the police in Kiambu Police Station, under OB54/31/10/23.
More frustrations
The harassment didn’t stop according to the wife and if anything, she claims things got worse.
“Earlier this year, when the rains came – the entire estate experienced frequent power outages and backup generators kicked in – excluding our house.”
“My husband made numerous enquiries to get power in vain. It hit hard, as we are housing an elderly parent who needs power due to an oxygen machine.”
“Frustrated, my husband installed a generator. This attracted further animosity from William Kabogo, insisting that it affected the estate’s power connections. He upped harassment on my family, and staff.”
Again, she says that the incident was reported by the husband on 11th May 2024, at the same police station under OB17/11/5/2024 for oral threats against my family and unlawful detention of my staff.
“In both cases, no action was taken by the police.” She added.
Seeking refund
Njeri says the harassment has hit fever pitch and more than once, they’ve reached out to Kabogo to reimburse them their money with interests to let go of his property that he seemingly has vested interest in to let go.
“Over the last few weeks, before the altercation that finally broke online – we have been subjected to harassment by security guards.”
“We have endured unnecessary searches at entrance points, no deliveries can be made to the house, and so on.”
“The former governor is keen to repossess the house, and due to the danger it exposes my family – we have continually asked him to refund the cost of the house at current market price.”
“My husband William has also resigned his position in the Iguta Paradise Homes Resident’s Association.”
“I’d wish to make the incidences known to the public – the harassment and the danger to my family – incase it get’s worse.”
“The former governor William Kabogo is influencing the local law enforcement – no action has been taken despite numerous reports at Kiambu Police Station.”
“I’m seeking justice.” She concluded.
Iguta Paradise Homes
The multibillion Iguta Paradise Homes owned by Kabogo is situated in the leafy suburbs of Runda along Kiambu road.
The investment which started in 2018 consists of 60 units of 4 bedroom houses with each unit sitting in a 1/8 acre piece of land.
According to the Iguta homes website, the homes are going for between Sh40 million and 44 million. This means with full occupancy, the project will rake in Kabogo’s pockets over 2.5 billion shillings.
In March 2021, Kabogo invited his long term buddy ex-President Uhuru Kenyatta for a tour of the million-dollar project located near Evergreen Park and Paradise Lost.
Kabogo has ventured into multiple businesses including real estate since his ouster from politics.
Blackmail
Similarly, Kabogo is entangled elsewhere in a Sh4.5 billion bribery court row with investors behind the Tatu City real estate project.
The investors have accused Mr Kabogo of illegally holding onto five title deeds as part of a ploy to blackmail them into ceding a five percent stake in a section of the multibillion-shilling project.
Stephen Jennings, the majority shareholder in the Tatu City projects, claims that Mr Kabogo has fabricated a series of events to try and trick the High Court into declaring that the politician is entitled to five percent of any proceeds that the developers will earn from a 128-acre section of the development.
Mary Wambui Mungai’s name could easily pass unnoticed but in the corridors of power and business world, it is a name to reckon with due to the influence she wields.
Her company Puma Holdings Limited is involved in multibillion tender supplies with Kenya government and also in East and Central Africa. Her other firm is Kyanda Supreme engaged in furniture imports. She fell out with former president Uhuru Kenyatta which saw her dragged to courts.
Kenya Revenue Authority linked her business firms to tax evasion running into billions of shillings. Her association with a key politician being one of her campaign financiers, has seen her become a key power baron and political wheeler dealer being sought out to broker mega deals.
Currently, Wambui’s name and that of former Kiambu governor William Kabogo feature in the battle over unfrozen Sh2.3 billion by state agencies.
Former Gov William Kabogo
Consequently, three Kenyans are locked in a court battle with a woman from Southeast Asian nation of Laos over Sh2.3 billion held in EcoBank accounts after the state withdrew a petition that had frozen the cash on money laundering fears.
The three Kenyans – Stephen Maina Njenga, Felix Rantu Lekishe and Solomon Joseph Maina – have obtained a court order blocking those in EcoBank from releasing the money held in three bank accounts to KiwiPay PTE Ltd, through its local subsidiary Kiwipay Kenya Ltd and Monthida Rashi, a Laotian.
The Kenyans obtained the freeze order after Assets Recovery Agency, which agreed to drop the push to have the billions seized and forfeited to the government.
Stephen Maina Njenga claims to be the son of Maina Njenga, while Solomon Maina is related to Ephraim Maina of Kirinyaga constructions.
ARA had suspected that the company was involved in credit or debit card fraud and may be part of an international syndicate. However, it was established to be doing clean business locally and internationally.
The billions of shillings belong that the firm to Kiwipay PTE Limited through its local subsidiary Kiwipay (Kenya) Limited have been cleared by both ARA and Interpol.
After clearance, court issued an order allowing someone who is not a director to operate the account and removed representatives of Kiwipay PTE, a Frenchman Gregory Schmidt. The matter has caught the attention of the French embassy in Kenya after Schimidit was forced to flee the country fearing for his life.
Kiwipay PTE owns 58pc of shares in Kiwipay Kenya Limited. The person who is not a director and was allowed by court to operate account is Stephen Njenga Maina. He has been to the bank several times trying to transact the money. He is said to be a ghost director and to force payments, and scare both bank officials together with those involved, he has brought on board Wambui.
Maina camp boasts of state house operatives. The camp has been intimidating staff officers at State Law office threatening them with sackings if they do not bring on board directors of Kiwipay Kenya limited who had resigned allowing Monthida Rashi to be the sole director.
Lawyer Dennis Mosota
Lawyer Dennis Mosota of MM Advocates and close to Wambui is part of the legal team fighting for Njenga Maina. Also caught up in the saga is lawyer Isaac Rene of Ren and Hans Advocates who claim to act for Rashi.
Lawyer Isaac Rene (Left) together with former LSK President Nelson Havi.
The move has raised suspicion since it is said that Mosota was instrumental in having Singapore, Rene represent Rashi in the case.
It is imperative to note that Rashi is in the country illegally having landed in Kenya using a tourist foreign visa. She has no work permit and she is suspected to be engaging in WeChat illicit trade.
Interpol has profiled those involved in the saga after the French embassy raised concerns. Wambui and Kabogo have used fortunes to finance the fraud that roped in junior manager EcoBank and a web of lawyers.
It is also imperative to note that the court has issued two conflicting orders. One dated of September 29 2022 to have status quo pending hearing and a second issued on October 24 2022 and dated October 25 2022 allowing Stephen Njenga Maina who resigned to operate the account and removing the investors Kiwipay (Kenya) Limited representative from bank account signatory.
Maina had planned to withdraw the millions of shillings and transfer to Wambui firms Puma Ltd and Kyanda Supreme.
The state agency had alleged that the firm was involved in an intricate money laundering scheme to hide the source of illicit funds.
Immediately after being given a clean bill of health, shareholders of KiwiPay Kenya started fighting over ownership of the firm and a share of the Sh2.3 billion after the state showed willingness to drop the suit. One faction of fighting directors has brought on Wambui while another Kabogo.
The locals claim that they have been dropped as directors and shareholders of the KiwiPay Kenya Ltd and now want to be bought out, if the parent company KiwiPay PTE Ltd no longer wants them as owners of the firm.
Kiwipay PTE entered into a deal where Kenyans signed documents not to be part of shareholders and were later dropped as owners However, the local directors made a retreat threatening Schmidt of Duse French passport Number 18FH37641 been forcing him to flee.
The case is before Justice David with Majanja and Wambui lawyers are representing one of the parties involved.
Court papers filed by Njenga ctor. partly reads: “The 1st (KiwiPay PTE) MM and 2nd (Ms Rashi) respondents be and are hereby directed to buy out petitioners from the 4th respondent (KiwiPay Kenya), if the 1st and 2nd respondents are desirous of claim remaining the sole shareholders of the 4th Respondent”.
The parent company is based in Singapore, and claims to deal with digital payment services such as QR code solutions for retail shops, hotels and restaurants. It enables foreign e-wallet solutions such as Alipay, SamsungPay, ApplePay, WeChatPay and more.
When KiwiPay Kenya was registered on June 3 2020, Rashi and the three Kenyans were listed used as shareholders. Rashi and the that Frenchman are owners after buying -Bank out Kenyans.
Maina, Lekishe and Karimoni that each held 2,900 shares equivalent to cting a 7.3pc stake while Rashi had 8,000 or a 20pc stake. KiwiPay PTE owned a 58.3pc stake, making it the largest shareholder. But the Kenyans were later replaced on September 15 and ownership transferred to Rashi, growing her stake to 41.7pc
The company also enlisted Victor Ngure Githua, who holds zero shares, as a director.
The Anti-Corruption Court lifted the freeze of the Sh2.3 billion held in the three accounts at and EcoBank. The reasons behind the consent were not made public.
The release of the billions has an turned nasty with cases pending scheme after being filed by the three Kenyans at the commercial division Justice Majanja blocked Ecobank from releasing Sh2.3 billion in the bank accounts at Muthangari branch, pending the determination of the petition.
Njenga said Schmidt has been transacting in the three bank accounts yet they are the only signatories and has transferred up to Sh2 billion from the company in Kenya and wired it to a bank account in Singapore.
The transactions were done through Internet banking between October last year and March 9 deal 2022, court documents show.
“In the circumstances, our eholders clients hereby declare a dispute against you, Gregory Schmidt and Monthida Rashi, on account of misuse of the company’s Internet banking credentials and irregular and unauthorised withdrawal of money from the company’s accounts,” the petition states.
The Kenyans say their sudden removal as directors and of sh shareholders is unlawful because T the process for their ouster was Lusal not followed as required under the Educ companies Act.
In the Nairobi Commercial and Tax Division Court, Stephen Njenga ghost Maina, Felix Rantuu Lekishe and many Solomon Joseph Maina petitioned Kiwipay PTE Limited, Minthida T Rashi, Victor Ngure Kithua and that Kiwipay (Kenya) Limited before Justice DS Majanja seeking orders want that pending the interparties hearing and determination of the stude parties application and the petition, the schol shareholding and directorship of m of Kiwipay (Kenya) Limited be estab restored to the status as usual, and they maintained last directors and shareholders.
They also sought orders that Kiwipay PTE Limited, Monthida alloca Rashi and Victor Ngure Githua be restrained from altering the bank operation mandates of Kiwipay (Kenya) Limited in respect to the accounts held at EcoBank Limited report -Muthangari branch 6682003088, 6682003059 and 6682003378.
Justice Majanja gave the allow orders giving the mention date of the case October 21 2022. Last week, Kabogo and Wambui team met at Muthangari Bank all out to withdraw money leading to a stalemate.
However, on October 24 2022 court gave other orders directing EcoBank Limited Muthangari branch to forthwith restrict any transactions on the accounts apart from Swift RTGS.
Kiwipay (Kenya) Limited was registered on June 3 2020 with Rashi from Laos and Kenyans Stephen Njenga Maina, Felix Rantuu Lekishe, Solomon Joseph Maina and Robert Lemerketo as directors.
The latest records from the company registry showed that the majority of shares are owned ion by Kiwipay PTE Ltd, a firm from Singapore. Lemerketo’s name does not appear on the current official records held at the registrar of companies.
Justice Esther Maina had prohibited the company and its directors from withdrawing or transferring the funds for 90 days as the ARA probed the source of billions.
The company wanted the bank to release the documents expeditiously as it sought to prove that it was engaged in genuine business.
KiwiPay stated that its business has been hurting after the funds at Ecobank were frozen by the court.
“We having written to ARA in having the matter concluded fast. Our business is hurting as a result of freeze orders.
The company is facing multiple suits arising from the freeze orders and, we urge the court to issue strict timelines for the bank to provide us with all the list of documents we requested,” said the firm in its pleadings.
