Brighter Africa’s Dark Side: Directors in Court for Alleged Investment Scam

Two directors of Brighter Africa Limited have been charged at Milimani Law Court with conspiracy to defraud and operate a microfinance business without a license from the Central Bank of Kenya.

Brian Mukolwe and Yvette Atieno Okoth who are a couple and directors of the said company appeared before the Milimani chief magistrate Lucas Onyina facing three counts of conspiracy to defraud and operate an unlicensed microfinance business.

The prosecution told the court that on May 1, 2021, and April 30, 2024, within Nairobi county in the republic of Kenya, being directors of Brighter Africa Limited jointly conspired to defraud Andanje Sheila Buyechero Ksh 20,750,000.

They falsely pretended to be able to invest the money in a collective scheme on her behalf which was a false fact.

In another charge, the duo were charged with defrauding Earnest Were Ksh 8,786,100 by pretending to be in a position to invest the money in a collective scheme on his behalf which was a false fact.

Further, the court heard that they jointly carried out business as a collective investment scheme without a valid license issued by the Capital Market Authority and Central Bank of Kenya.

They denied all the charges leveled against them.

State prosecutor Joyce Olajo did not oppose their release on bond but urged the court to consider the nature of the offense and grant them terms that commensurate the same,

“We do not oppose the release of the accused persons on reasonable bond terms that commensurate the nature of the offence,” Olajo told the magistrate.

The defence counsel Ken Echesa prayed the court to release them on lenient terms since they are not a flight risk.

The lawyer added that the accused are willing to comply with the terms and conditions that would be imposed by the court.

They were released on bond of Ksh 500,000 with a surety of the same amount each.