Seven suspects were formally charged at the Milimani Law Courts over the Office of the President’s Sh62 million ambulance scandal pitting two Swedish nationals and a local entrepreneur.
The seven – Michael Musyoki Ngumbi, Evans Simotwo, Geoffrey Were Odondi, Allan Mutahi Kariuki, Purity Njeri Njamu, Jared Masinde and Karobia Simatwa – denied the charges and were released on bond of Sh5 million each.
They denied five counts of conspiracy to defraud Swedish nationals Talal Yousef and Yousef Zaitoun of $470,750 (about
Sh62 million).
Another suspect, Rose Mbuthia, was not in court. The trial magistrate summoned her to appear before him on April 1, 2026 for plea taking.
They are charged with conspiring to defraud the Swedish nationals through the pretext that they would assist them to supply and deliver 500 high-roof Toyota Hiace ambulances.
They allegedly committed the offence between January 10 and February 23, 2026.
The prosecution said the eight knew they were cheating the two investors.
Odondi is charged with obtaining Sh62 million from Yousef and Zaitoun through Lianyungang Chanta International Wood Company Limited.
He allegedly claimed he would assist them to secure a contract from the Kenyan government for supply and delivery of 500 ambulances.
Odondi is further accused of receiving the money through a bank account operated by Damira MultiActivities.
Ngumbi faces a charge of forgery contrary to Section 345 as read with Section 349 of the penal code. He was accused of intent to defraud by forging a letter of notification of an award, reference MINA/JKR/AMB/1/226, for the supply and delivery of 500 amhulances during the financial years 2026/2027.
Ngumbi purported the said letter was genuine and issued by the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.
The magistrate observed the prosecution did not oppose the release of the suspects on bond.
She ordered each of them to deposit a bond of Sh5 million with one surety of a similar amount.
The court also granted them an alternative cash bail of Sh300,000.
The magistrate further directed the prosecution to supply the accused with witness statements on or before April 1, 2026 for pre-trial directions.
Detectives established that the suspects were negotiating another deal when officers moved in and arrested them on the 12th floor of the government building.
The complainant is a Swedish national who was tricked into believing that he would get a tender from the government of Kenya to supply it with 500 ambulances. On that belief, the complainant has already been defrauded of USD470,750, which is equivalent to Sh60,867,975.00.
The complainant, Talar Yousef Yousef Zaitoun, a Swedish citizen and businessman based in Stockholm, is the owner of Jokara AB, a company involved in exporting timber and machinery from Sweden to African markets.
He told police the ordeal began on January 10, 2026 when he received a WhatsApp message from a person identifying himself as Stanley Ndawula, using a Ugandan phone number, requesting a catalogue of products from his company.
A day later, Zaitoun was contacted by Odondi , using a Kenyan phone number. Odondi introduced himself as a consultant working with Interlog Corporate, claiming to facilitate business between the Kenyan government and private companies.
Were informed the businessman of a government tender opportunity involving the supply of ambulances.
On January 19, Odondi informed Zaitoun that the Government of Kenya was seeking to procure ambulances.
After expressing interest, the Swedish businessman submitted a quotation on January 31, 2026, proposing to supply Toyota Hiace High Roof ambulances priced at USD65,500 per unit, including specifications and photographs.
He was subsequently invited to travel to Kenya for further engagements.
Zaitoun arrived in Kenya on January 26, 2026, through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, aboard a Turkish Airlines flight.
He was received by Odondi and a driver identified as Nicho, who took him to Radisson Blu Hotel Arboretum, where he stayed until January 30.
On January 27, Zaitoun was escorted to Harambee House for a meeting with several individuals including Michael and Geoffrey, who introduced themselves as representatives of government agencies including the National Treasury and the Ministry of Health.
During the meeting, he was informed that the ambulances were required for delivery to Mombasa and that before signing the contract he had to meet certain financial requirements.
He was told the total contract value stood at USD 36,025,000 and that he had to provide either a performance bond or insurance coverage.
Zaitoun opted to pay a 3 percent insurance coverage, amounting to USD 1,080,750, instead of the performance bond.
He was also told there was an additional 2 percent ledger fee worth USD 360,250, which he was informed would be shared between him and the government.
The suspects also allegedly demanded a pre-qualification fee, offering two optionsUSD 90,000 for qualification for a single government contract within five years and USD 110,000 for qualification for multiple contracts within the same period. Zaitoun said he chose the USD 110,000 package.
On January 30, 2026, the money was transferred from a sister company in China — Lianyungang Chanta International Wood Co. Ltd — to an Ecobank Kenya account in the name of Conrad Law Advocates LLP.
He was issued with invoices and documents including a certificate of incorporation, company search records and identification documents allegedly belonging to the law firm.
After the payment, he received a pre-qualification certificate indicating that the tender had been awarded to his company. However, the document showed the award date as October 22, 2025, raising suspicion. He was allegedly assured that such documentation was usually backdated.
Despite returning to Sweden, the suspects continued pressing him to pay the remaining insurance coverage fees, claiming the Kenyan government had already paid its portion.
Following negotiations, the businessman transferred additional amounts on February 1, including USD 48,392, USD 51,607, USD 80,000.
Further payments were made on February 25, including, USD 55,285.22, USD 55,438.3 and USD 69,275.95.
All the funds were wired from the same Chinese company to the Ecobank account provided by the suspects.
Zaitoun later became suspicious after the suspects repeatedly changed conditions and explanations regarding the payments. Independent due diligence also revealed that the pre-qualification certificate was fraudulent.
On March 9, 2026, Zaitoun returned to Kenya with his brother Hatim.
They were again received by Geoffrey and the same driver before being taken back to Radisson Blu Hotel.
The following day, they proceeded to Harambee House for another meeting with Geoffrey, Michael and other suspects when the arrest was staged.
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