ODPP Addresses Reports Of Planning To Charge CS Justin Muturi's Son

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has denied reports that it approved charges against Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi's son, Leslie Muturi for money laundering.

ODPP was forced to step in and set the record straight in response to a letter that made the rounds on social media purporting that authorities had received and approved a communication from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

In a statement issued on Thursday, January 16, the ODPP disclosed that the letter purporting to be from the office was fake.

The now-flagged statement claimed that the ODPP had opened an inquiry into Leslie Muturi and three other leaders regarding the June 25, 2024, protests, accusing them of involvement in money laundering and other crimes.

The leaders mentioned in the fake statement included Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru Mwangi, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, and Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje.

"Following your communication dated 24 September 2024, regarding the investigation into the violent protests that occurred in Nairobi on 25 June 2024, I have reviewed the inquiry file concerning the following individuals," read the fake notice in part.

"Benjamin Gathiru Mwangi (alias Mejja Donk) - Member of Parliament, Embakasi Central 2. James Gakuya - Member of Parliament, Embakasi North, Mark Mwenje - Member of Parliament, Embakasi West and Leslie Muturi - former Personal Assistant to Attorney General Hon. Justin Muturi."

The letter, which was laced with a fake signature of the Senior Assistant of the DPP, Vincent Monda, further claimed sufficient evidence had been gathered to charge the four individuals.

It further stipulated that they were set to be charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, contrary to Section 393 of the Penal Code.

"Additionally, I recommend that a separate inquiry file be opened to investigate potential offences related to: Money Laundering and Financial Crimes, as stipulated under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act," added the fake letter.

Which directed that "Please proceed accordingly with the necessary legal actions against the suspects."

Incidentally, the three other individuals in the letter were also named in Justin Muturi's explosive police statement detailing his son's abduction. The statement went viral on Tuesday, January 14.

Muturi's son was allegedly picked up by 'armed, hooded gangsters' while they were travelling along Denis Pritt Road turning into Olengruone Avenue. Leslie was in the company of Mwenje and an advocate of the High Court of Kenya, Marangu Imanyara.

The report further detailed how Leslie, Imanyara and Mwenje had come together to attend a birthday party in Lavington at the time of the incident. 

As he dragged Kithure Kindiki, President William Ruto, and Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) director Kiprotich Mohammed into the tell-all letter, Muturi alleged that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) was behind the abduction of his son, learning of this through a friend working within the intelligence unit.