In a case that has rocked Nairobi’s legal and political circles, city lawyer Michael Otieno Owano and politician Emmanuel Charles Osore have been arraigned over an alleged Sh62 million fraud scheme involving a foreign national and a purported Ministry of Defence tender.
The unfolding proceedings have ignited public debate about integrity, influence peddling, and abuse of perceived power, particularly where national security institutions are invoked to lend credibility to alleged scams.
Alleged Ministry of Defence Tender Scam
According to the prosecution, Owano and Osore are accused of conspiring to defraud an Israeli national, Cohen Oshry, by falsely claiming they could secure him a lucrative government contract.
The alleged scheme revolved around a tender for the supply and installation of a GSM offensive system at the Ministry of Defence—a highly sensitive area that prosecutors say was deliberately used to project authority and influence.
Court documents indicate that the accused allegedly convinced the complainant that they had direct access to senior decision-makers, inducing him to part with USD 400,000 (approximately Sh62 million).
Accused Deny Charges in Court
The two appeared before Gilbert Shikwe at the Milimani Law Courts, where they denied all charges.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, both Owano and Osore insisted they had no involvement in any fraudulent dealings and challenged the prosecution’s narrative.
Prosecution Alleges Elaborate Deception
Prosecutors told the court that the alleged fraud involved:
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False representations of influence
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Falsified documents
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Misleading assurances about the award of the defence tender
The State argues that the accused jointly orchestrated the deception to obtain money under false pretences, knowing fully well that no such tender facilitation was possible.
The allegations, if proven, point to a carefully structured con designed to exploit the complainant’s interest in securing high-value government contracts.
Bail Granted Under Strict Terms
After hearing submissions, the court granted the two accused bail under stringent conditions:
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Michael Otieno Owano:
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Bond of Sh3 million, or
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Alternative cash bail of Sh400,000
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Emmanuel Charles Osore:
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Bond of Sh5 million, or
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Alternative cash bail of Sh500,000
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The case is scheduled for mention on a later date as investigations and pre-trial processes continue.
Case Raises Wider Questions
The prosecution has already sparked wider scrutiny over:
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The misuse of government institutions to legitimise scams
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Alleged influence peddling by professionals and politicians
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The vulnerability of foreign investors to high-level fraud schemes
As the trial unfolds, the case is expected to test how Kenyan courts handle complex fraud involving claims of access to state power, especially in sensitive sectors such as defence.
For now, both Owano and Osore remain out on bail, but firmly in the spotlight as the justice system weighs allegations that have shaken confidence in professional and political accountability.