Ex News anchor Salim Swaleh and Five Others Granted Bail Amid Fraud Allegations

Salim Swaleh, Director of Press at the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, along with five other suspects, has been granted cash bail of Ksh. 400,000 each. The case, shrouded in allegations of obtaining money by false pretences and abuse of office, was addressed by Magistrate BenMark Ekumbi at the Milimani Law Courts on Wednesday.

Magistrate Ekumbi's ruling mandates that the accused report to the Investigating Officer weekly and deposit their travel documents, ensuring they remain within the jurisdiction. Additionally, the Magistrate issued a stern warning against any attempts to interfere with witnesses.

"The court finds no compelling reasons to deny bail, as the investigations can continue while the suspects are out," stated Magistrate Ekumbi. This decision effectively dismissed the prosecution's request for a 14-day detention, citing insufficient merit.

While charges are yet to be formally brought against the suspects, the prosecution is probing offences related to abuse of office and conspiracy to defraud. The accusations stem from a complex scheme involving foreign nationals from Dubai and South Africa, who were allegedly deceived into securing a tender for constructing two stadiums for the upcoming AFCON 2027 games. The complainants were reportedly on the verge of being defrauded of over Ksh. 5 million as a registration fee.

The prosecution outlined a detailed account of the fraudulent activities, explaining that the foreign investors were misled into believing they would meet with high-ranking government officials to facilitate the tendering process. This included purported meetings with officials from the Ministries of Sports, Interior, and Youth Affairs, and senators from the Budget and Sports committees.

Central to the allegations is a meeting at the Prime CS office, where Swaleh allegedly arranged for one of the suspects to pose as the chairman of the Government Delivery Unit, offering to expedite the tender process.

As investigations continue, authorities plan to collect statements and verify company registration details from relevant entities in the UAE. Despite the court's ruling, the prosecution maintains that the suspects pose a flight risk and could potentially impede the investigation, especially given its international dimensions.