Widow Released on Bail in Family Property Forgery Case

A Nairobi Magistrate’s court has released a widow who is charged with forgery of documents aiming to facilitate the ownership of some properties left by the deceased husband unlawfully.

Leah Muthoni Kiongo appeared before the Milimani Principal Magistrate, Paul Mutai, and was granted a bond of Ksh 300,000, with an alternative cash bail of Ksh 100,000, to secure her release.

The accused faced four counts of forgery, obtaining registration by pretence, and unauthorised access, which are contrary to Section 14(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.

The court heard that on May 19, 2021, at an unknown place within the Republic of Kenya, jointly with others who were not before the court, forged an affidavit for the request of a change of mobile phone number at the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), purporting it to be a genuine affidavit signed by Stephene Kiongo Karuku to facilitate the transfer of ownership of two motor vehicles registration number  KBS 771E and KBK 391B from the ownership of Karuku.

She was also charged with obtaining registration by false pretence contrary to Section 320 of the Penal Code.

The prosecution told the court that, on May 20, 2021, at the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in Kisumu, jointly wth others not before the court, she deliberately facilitated the acquisition of motor vehicle registration certificates for motor vehicles KBS 771E and KBK391Bby pretending that the same had been issued by the Directorate of Registration and Licensing at (NTSA), a fact she knew to be false.

Further, Muthoni was charged with unauthorised access to a computer and manipulating the system’s operations by bypassing security protocols to illegally access the NTSA system, knowing the access was unauthorised. She altered the ownership records of the motor vehicles aforementioned by transferring them to Daniel Mutua Tanyai.

She denied the charges and, through her lawyer, pleaded with the court to grant her lenient bond terms, citing that she would comply with the terms to be set by the court.

“Your honour, my client is not a flight risk and will comply with the terms to be set by the court,” the defence submitted.

The lawyer also stated that Muthoni is the wife of Karuku, the deceased and the complainant in the matter is the co-administrator of the estate.

In giving direction, the Magistrate released her on a bond of Ksh 300,000 or alternative cash bail of Ksh 100,000 with one contact person.

The matter will be mentioned on June 26, 2026, for pre-trial and directions.