Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti’s son, Charles Oduwale, has reportedly been detained in the UK as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation, with his travel documents currently held by British authorities.
According to Wesley Kibande, an influential X user, Governor Ndeti, who has been in the UK for a private visit, accompanied her son when he was arrested last week, according to sources familiar with the case.
Charles Oduwale, a dual UK-Kenyan citizen, was taken into custody after attempting to deposit £4,004,915.65 (approximately Ksh. 679 million) at First Commercial Bank in East London. When questioned by anti-fraud officials, he could not explain the source of the money but claimed it was for constructing a Level 5 hospital for Machakos residents.
Machakos Governor Hon. Wavinya Ndeti. Photo: The Standard Digital Source: Facebook
Sources revealed that Charles and Governor Ndeti were in the process of purchasing an apartment in Shrike Valley, East London. He was asked to perform a bank transfer when the large sum raised suspicions, leading to his arrest.
Oduwale was arraigned at Isleworth Crown Court on Monday, where he denied charges of money laundering. Justice Martin Edmunds granted him cash bail of £2,000, and he remains under police surveillance at their Shoreditch residence in East London.
The UK’s National Crime Agency is investigating possible links between Oduwale and a larger criminal network suspected of smuggling over £100 million from the UK to the UAE.
Two Kenyan lawyers, specializing in international and economic law, arrived in London to defend Oduwale. Their efforts follow a failed attempt by a prominent Kenyan politician to involve the British High Commissioner to Kenya. Lead lawyer Bernard WT is set to represent Oduwale in a court session scheduled for Monday.
The development comes barely days after social media was awash with reports, claims and counter claims that the Machakos boss Wavinya Ndeti had been arrested by Interpol while in UK after being found with huge sums of Kenya shillings amounting by to 679 million.
Also, it is alleged that Wavinya Ndeti managed to travel with the huge cash of money several days ago when Kenya was hit by a nationwide blackout of electricity.
