A man who was appointed to take the reins at East Africa Portland Cement, has been arraigned in Mavoko over alleged fraud.
Bruno Oguda Obodha was arraigned in Mavoko before Senior Principal Magistrate Derrick Kuto to take plea for six counts of forging documents with intent to commit fraud on diverse dates in 2024.
He pleaded not guilty.
Obodha, who was appointed Portland Cement Managing Director by President William Ruto in December 2024, spent the weekend at Athi River Police Station cells after he was arrested for tailing to appear in court to take plea in the case.
Obodha’s lawyer pleaded with the court for a lenient cash bail on Monday, but the magistrate argued that the gravity of the charges compelled him to impose a Sh5 million bond and a surety of the same amount or a cash bail of Sh2 million and one reliable contact person.
“The matter will be held in trial court on April 29, 2025, for further directions on when the matter will be heard,” ruled the court.
The complainant in the case is Portland Cement through Ms Camilla Sienei, the firm’s Acting Head of Supply Chain.
He was charged with six counts of forgery and uttering of fraudulent documents purporting them to be from the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK) and Kingdom bank
According to the charge sheet, Obodha was accused of making and presenting fake documents to the East African Portland Cement Company with the intent to defraud.
He is accused of making a document without authority contrary to Section 357(a) of the Penal Code.
The charge states that Bruno fabricated a Certificate of Membership No. 1360 for Brumec International Security Company Limited, falsely claiming it was issued by the Protective Security Industry Association.
Count two accuses him of uttering a document with intent to defraud. He allegedly presented the same forged certificate to Ms. Camila Sielei at East African Portland Cement Company on November 11, 2024.
In Counts three and four, the prosecution alleges that Obodha created and presented a fake Radio Communication Station License No. 2007534, purporting it to be a valid license issued by the Communication Authority of Kenya.
He is said to have uttered the document to Ms. Sielei
Counts five and six relate to a forged Tender Guarantee document No. 20240022478, which he allegedly made to appear as if issued by Kingdom Bank.
He is accused of fabricating and later uttering the document to the East African Portland Cement Company through Ms. Sielei.
The cement firm has been facing management challenges with suits being filed in court over the same.
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