Senator Mungatana: How I was conned Ksh.76M in get-rich-quick scheme

During a hearing at a Nairobi court on Thursday, Mungatana explained to the court that his late wife died not knowing the truth about their Karen home, which was part of his lost assets.

In the case, Abdoulaye Tamba Kouro is accused of pretending that he would help Mungatana invest the money.

Mungatana said that he was introduced to the accused by Mohammed Amin.

Explaining the ordeal of how he was scammed, Mungatana testified that he first trusted the accused after he gave out his money and received double the amount.

He told the court that he first gave out Ksh.500,000 to Kouro and was given Ksh. 1 million back. The second time, Mungatana said he gave out Ksh.5 million and was given Ksh.10 million.

"I was very happy when I was told there's another opportunity to invest. He asked me if I had money I told him nope, he asked me to look for money, he said the opportunity is for around Ksh.5 million," said Mungatana.

"I looked for the money from friends and relatives, he had said I will be paid double the amount and after six months the accused person, true to his words he gave me back 10 million shillings. And all these transactions were in cash."

The third time, however, he gave out his money and Kouro disappeared.

"I never suspected that it would go wrong because the accused inspires you with confidence when you go to his place you will see many vehicles his apartment is Richly serviced with men watching over him, he's been treated like a king and will never think that anything would go wrong," he said.

"I believed him and I started looking for that money. I sold  properties that were in my name, I sold shares that were in my name and my late wife's name, we had cars that had log books we want to the banks and your honour we took short term loans, I had a home in Karen with seven rooms and at that time I was an MP it was the biggest investment I had made it was Ksh.70 million and I took a mortgage.," he added.

"I lost everything. After borrowing all the wealth I had accumulated and everytime I'd sell I'd convert into dollars and take the cash to that man. He made a mockery of my own savings."

Mungatana asked the trial magistrate to convict the accused and serve as a lesson to other conmen.

"These foreigners are conning a lot of Kenyan's ,"he said 

"Everything that I did and the business of law firm they took all my money....he should have been charged alongside his sons, he's the main one who was taking the money. He works with his son and other people.