Former Tigania East MP Josephat Gichunge Kabeabea, who is facing charges of defrauding investors in a greenhouse horticulture scheme of more than Sh29 million, will remain in custody pending a ruling on his bond application.

Gichunge was remanded after a Milimani Law Courts senior principal magistrate directed that he remain in custody until June 17, 2026 when the court will determine whether he should be released on bond or his case transferred to Kajiado Law Courts, where he is also facing a related matter.

The former legislator faces 26 counts of obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code.

The prosecution told the court that between January and December 2017, at Ansh Plaza in Nairobi County, Gichunge allegedly defrauded several investors by falsely claiming he was in a position to sell them parcels of land complete with operational greenhouses.

He is accused of obtaining Sh1.1 million from Rukia Mueni under the pretext of selling her land with two fully constructed greenhouses. In the various counts, the alleged victims reportedly lost amounts ranging between Sh780,000 and Sh2.2 million.

The prosecution further stated that Gichunge knowingly misled the investors, despite being aware that he was not in a position to fulfill the promises made.

He denied all the charges and applied to be released on bond, arguing that bail is a constitutional right.

However, the prosecution opposed the application, arguing that he is a flight risk.

The prosecution also told the court that Gichunge is facing a similar case at the Kajiado Law Courts where another warrant of arrest had been issued.

The court was further informed that instead of being presented in Kajiado, he was instead arraigned before the Milimani court.

His defence lawyer objected, arguing that the accused ought to have been taken to Kajiado for trial and urged the court to release him on bond, noting that he is a well-known public figure and a former MP.

In a brief ruling, the magistrate ordered that Gichunge remain in custody pending the determination of his bond application.

Court orderlies later escorted him back to prison custody.

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