BY MANUEL ODENY
Police are investigating a law firm associated with former Migori senatorial aspirant over fraud.
The politician Willies Misare who vied and lost to the incumbent Eddy Oketch in last polls is allied to Ollando Misare & Associates, LLP which is among firms under fraud investigations.
Police, through Directorate of Criminal Investigations on Facebook page named the firm among those under investigation after some Kenyans defrauded an American company of over Ksh182 million (approximately USD 1.6 million).
The foreign firm, Underground Pipeline Rehabilitation Company made substantial payments for non-existent projects involving multiple law firms.
Ollando Misare & Associates is alleged to have received significant payments, including USD30,000 (Ksh3.84m) in legal fees and USD547,000 (Ksh70m) in bid bonds related to a fictitious government contract.
Investigators from the Operations Support Unit said te fraudulent activity happened in 2022, when the victim met Alvin Alexander of a non-existent company called Orion AST who presented him with three fake tenders from Kenyan government agencies.
The tenders were:
- Tender No KCAA/032/2021-2022: Supply, Installation, and Commissioning of Area Control Centre and Disaster Recovery System Equipment.
- Tender No ICTA/RFP/03/2022-2022: Consultancy Services for the Design, Implementation, and Maintenance of an Information Management System (ISMS).
- Tender No MEWNR/T/18/2021-2022: Supply, Delivery, Installation, and Commissioning of Automatic Weather Stations (AWS).
The victim transferred a total of USD 1,617,200 (Ksh182,743,600) through several escrow accounts controlled by law firms thinking he was securing contracts for for legal services, bid bonds, and work permits.
Apart from Misare’s firm others involved in the fraud according to police were Owano Michael & Co. Advocates, Dennis Onyango & Co. Advocates, and Ouko Angado Co. Advocates.
The victim noticed something was amiss after communication breakdown and lack of response for months after payments.
While Misare is yet to be arrested or charged in court, a colleague Michael Otieno Owano, another advocate from Owano Michael & Co. Advocates, who is believed to be a central figure in the scam was arrested and charged in court.
Owano, with a history of fraudulent activities, was apprehended at Milimani Law Courts during a different legal proceeding. He was later released on cash bail while the investigation continues.
This case poses a significant challenge to Misare’s political and legal future. His involvement, whether direct or indirect, could dramatically impact his reputation.
Quoted in another media outlet, Misare is quoted saying he or the firm are yet to be formally charged or summoned by the DCI.
On the firm’s website, Misare Njagah is said to be “a very versatile and dynamic legal practitioner who heads the Commercial Consultancy department at the firm. He is known for his attention to detail and hands-on approach in handling client issues.
Before joining the firms, Misare was an associate advocate at M/S M. Ayieko Odhiambo & Associates.
He is touted as an expert in Legal Compliance Audits, Tax Law, Telecommunications Law, Civil and Criminal Litigation, Commercial transactions, and Perfection of Bank Securities.
He got his LLB (Honours) degree from Moi University and later a Postgraduate Diploma in Law, Kenya School of Law.
