Detectives from the Investigations Bureau (IB) attached to the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum have arraigned a husband and wife, along with an accomplice, for their involvement in a fraudulent scheme that led to the misappropriation of Sh22,151,983 from the National Oil Corporation of Kenya.
In a statement, DCI said the couple was arrested following a complaint from the National Oil Corporation about theft and misappropriation of substantial funds belonging to the corporation.
Detectives then launched investigations and discovered that Gladys Kahaki Njubi, a former Assistant Accountant at the National Oil Corporation, was the mastermind behind these fraudulent activities.
Gladys conspired with her husband, Griffin Nyakang’o Omwenga, and a third accomplice, Nehemia Onyunge Kibegwa, leading to the misappropriation of millions of shillings before resigning from her position.
Detectives also uncovered that Griffin had established five companies: Zoccom Enterprises Limited, Eceny Ventures Limited, Earthcare Supplier Services, Sparktec Ventures Limited, and Jaffer Petrofill Africa Limited.
The companies, which had neither bid for any services nor conducted any business with the National Oil Corporation, received nearly Sh22 million for purported services that were never rendered.
Gladys, in her role as the assistant payable accountant, was responsible for processing payments at the corporation.
“To conceal the connection to her husband’s businesses, she cunningly utilised authentic documents from legitimate companies contracted by the National Oil Corporation, ensuring that the names of her husband’s companies remained undetected by signatories,” DCI stated.
Nehemia Onyunge Kibegwa, the third suspect and director of Kensons Constructions Limited, also benefitted from this elaborate scheme, receiving millions of shillings despite having no prior bidding or engagement with the National Oil Corporation.
Upon completion of the investigation, the case file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
The ODPP concurred with the investigators’ recommendations to charge the three with conspiracy to defraud, theft by servant, forgery, and possession of proceeds of crime, among other offences.
The three suspects were arrested on January 28, 2026, and detained at Akila Police Station. On Thursday, they were brought before the Kibera Law Courts, where they pleaded not guilty to the charges.
They were remanded pending a bond ruling scheduled for 4th February, 2026.
