On Saturday, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) announced that it had renewed the property tussle against Wilson Nahashon Kanani, the proprietor of the 1824 Nightclub.
The EACC announced that it filed an appeal at the High Court against a High Court ruling that allowed the tycoon to keep his wealth.
The Commission further decried the High Court’s ruling that lifted earlier orders freezing the impugned assets, including landed properties, high-end vehicles, and cash held in various banks. They were all valued at Ksh643.2 million.
“Dissatisfied with the High Court judgment delivered by Justice Nixon Sifuna Ksh643.2 million, which EACC wanted to be forfeited to the state, the commission has moved to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal,” EACC revealed.
A section of the EACC Headquarters Integrity Centre in Nairobi County
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EACC
“Kanani, who acquired his wealth in a period of 5 years, earns a monthly gross salary of Ksh85,630.00 and a net of Ksh55,866.75.
In its submissions to the High Court, EACC disclosed that its investigations linked the suspect to assets worth Ksh1,054,917,466.01 through multiple companies and bank accounts under his name, spouse, minor children, and associates.
EACC further indicated that the suspect only justified Ksh407 million leaving Ksh643 million unaccounted for.
“It is this unexplained portion that EACC wanted forfeited to the State as proceeds of corruption,” the Commission further noted.
“The High Court judgment is a setback in the fight against corruption as it seeks to alter the current legal position on the burden of proof in forfeiture cases where graft suspects are required to explain the sources of their wealth. This potentially makes it easier for corrupt officials to loot public resources and escape legal consequences.”
On Thursday, the High Court declined to grant Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) orders to seize Ksh643.2 million assets belonging to a former Nairobi County official and his wife.
In his ruling, Justice Nixon Sifuna cited inadequate evidence as the main reason for declining EACC’s request to seize the assets belonging to Wilson Nahashon Kanani, the proprietor of the 1824 nightclub.
The Commission had moved to court seeking orders to seize assets belonging to the businessman allegedly obtained through fraud.
EACC filed the suit against Kanani, a junior City Hall employee and director of 1824, a popular bar and night club along Langata Road, Nairobi, failed to explain the source of his multi-million wealth.
Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) CEO Twalib Mbarak
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EACC
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