In a surprising turn of events, Ann Njoroge, the oil tycoon embroiled in a Ksh17 billion oil importation controversy, has been found in Mombasa County after being reported missing for several days.
Njoroge, accompanied by her lawyer, Cliff Ombeta, was spotted entering the Mombasa Law Courts shortly after noon. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance and her whereabouts during the past six days remain unknown.
The oil mogul went missing after visiting the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters on Kiambu Road last week. Reports indicate that Energy CS Davis Chirchir had directed her to provide a statement to authorities regarding her claim of ownership of diesel valued at Ksh17 billion imported into the country.
According to Ombeta, Njoroge was allegedly taken to an undisclosed location by the police after recording her statement. The DCI has yet to respond to these claims.
Chirchir, however, asserted that the consignment in question was imported by a different company called Galana, and the government would collaborate with various agencies to ascertain the true owner of the imported goods. "The consignment was brought in by a company called Galana, and it has been discharged. So, we want to know the truth, but the case is in court at the moment," stated the CS during a tree-planting event in Baringo County.
Contradicting claims emerged when the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) flagged documents suggesting Njoroge as the consignment's owner as fake. The oil had been imported from Saudi Arabia on September 26 and landed in Mombasa on September 30, 2023.
"The consignees and their respective portions of the bulk cargo are listed in the Manifest submitted by the Ship's Agent, and KPA confirms that the businesswoman's Import and Export Enterprises Limited is not one of the manifested consignees," clarified the Kenya Ports Authority.