Businessman Bruno Oguda Obodha, recently appointed Managing Director of East Africa Portland Cement Company (EAPCC), has been charged with six criminal offenses, including forgery and fraud. On Monday, he appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Derick Kuto at the Mavoko Law Courts, where he faced charges related to alleged forgery of official documents intended to defraud.
The charges, which stem from incidents in 2024, involve the creation of fraudulent documents. One of the key allegations is that Obodha forged a membership certificate for Blue Make International Security Company Ltd., making it appear to be a valid document issued by the Protective Security Industry Association. Additionally, he is accused of altering official documents with the intent to defraud, including a certificate (No. 1360) dated November 11, 2024, during his tenure at EAPCC.
Obodha is also charged with creating a document without authority, specifically the fabrication of license No. 2007534, which was meant to establish a radio communication station for Blue Make International Security Company Ltd. This charge falls under Section 375A of the Penal Code. The prosecution alleges that these actions were carried out with fraudulent intent.
Following his arrest and detention over the weekend at Athi River Police Station, Obodha was presented before the court after a warrant was issued for his failure to attend previous hearings. In court, he pleaded for leniency, but Magistrate Kuto emphasized the seriousness of the charges and granted him bail. He was released on a bond of Ksh.5 million with a surety of the same amount, or an alternative cash bail of Ksh.2 million. The conditions of his release also require one reliable contact person.
The case is set to continue on April 29, 2025, when further directions will be given. The developments come at a time when Obodha’s appointment as Managing Director of EAPCC has been met with controversy. His appointment, made by President William Ruto on December 20, 2024, has faced opposition from the company’s board. Just two days after the announcement, the board sent a letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Industry, Trade, and Investment, expressing concerns about Obodha’s integrity and potential conflicts of interest.
In the letter, Board Chairman Brigadier (Rtd.) Richard Mbithi cited a circular from the Head of Public Service, dated April 20, 2022, which flagged Obodha’s business dealings with EAPCC and suggested that he may have been involved in fraudulent activities. The board raised these concerns in light of the allegations now being faced by Obodha.
Further complicating the matter, EAPCC has argued in court filings that President Ruto, not being a member of the company’s board, lacked the authority to appoint or confirm appointments on behalf of the board. This argument was raised in response to a case filed by lawyer Apollo Mboya, who has sued Board Chairman Brigadier (Rtd.) Mbithi over the matter. EAPCC maintains that the press release issued by the President on December 20, 2024, erroneously named Bruno Oguda Obodha as the new Managing Director, without the proper board confirmation.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the future of Obodha’s appointment as Managing Director of EAPCC remains uncertain, and the case is set to draw significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the allegations and the controversy surrounding his appointment.
