The High Court has maintained the freeze on assets valued at Ksh 643.2 million in a forfeiture case involving a Nairobi City Council junior staff member.
Justice (Prof) Nixon Sifuna rejected an application by Wilson Nahashon Kanani, an employee of the Nairobi County Government, seeking to have the High Court lift the orders granted to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in September 2023. These orders froze Kanani’s multimillion assets, which he failed to account for, including real estate, luxury vehicles, and Kes48 million in bank accounts.
According to EACC, Kanani, who also serves as a co-director of the popular establishment 1824, conducted transactions totaling Ksh 643.2 million over five years, amassing significant assets while earning a monthly salary of Ksh 55,866 at the City Council.
The court declined to unfreeze the assets due to their unexplained origin, pending the resolution of the case.
“Kanani is a co-director of a private company operating as 1824, a renowned bar and nightclub along Langata Road, Nairobi. The freezing orders were issued pending the outcome of a recovery case initiated by EACC, seeking the forfeiture of Kanani’s unexplained assets to the State,” stated EACC.
The case was initiated following investigations revealing that Kanani, a Development Control Officer II at City Hall, had engaged in corrupt activities, conducting transactions totaling Ksh 643.2 million and accumulating assets beyond his legitimate income sources.
The illicit transactions were conducted through bank accounts in Kanani’s name, as well as those of his companies, spouse, and minor children. In his ruling, Justice Sifuna ordered that the existing freezing orders remain in effect until the conclusion of the EACC forfeiture case.
