Alex Okoth Nalwenje and his wife, Esther Nyambura Kamande, appeared before Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo in Kibera, where they pleaded not guilty to all 41 counts related to an alleged multi‑million‑shilling pension fraud scheme.

Prosecutors allege the pair, together with unnamed co‑accused, manipulated payroll records to insert fictitious beneficiaries into several pension schemes, enabling unlawful claims of retirement benefits.

The alleged schemes involved pension arrangements linked to firms such as Ernst & Young, Swissport, the Kenya Bureau of Standards, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service, Nestlé, Cadbury and Nokia.

The 41 charges span conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretences, fraudulent false accounting and offences under the Penal Code and the Proceeds of Crime and Anti‑Money Laundering Act.

Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Maryann Mwangi and Principal Prosecution Counsel Michael Mutune did not contest the bail request but urged the magistrate to weigh the seriousness of the accusations when setting conditions.

Magistrate Atambo ordered a Sh3 million bond for Nalwenje and a Sh1 million bond for Kamande, the latter also requiring a surety of equal value or an alternative cash bail of Sh1 million.

Both defendants were instructed to surrender their passports and to report to the investigating officer each month, unless the court directs otherwise.

The next court appearance is scheduled for 17 November 2026, when pre‑trial directions will be issued.