CITY TRENDS: Renowned political analyst Herman Manyora was on Wednesday arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts and charged with cheating, following allegations that he defrauded a businesswoman in a fake Nairobi Hospital tender deal.

Appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai, Manyora denied the charge of cheating contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code.

The court released him on a personal bond of Sh2million with two contact persons.

According to the charge sheet prepared by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Manyora is accused of obtaining Sh516,000 from complainant Josphine Luceno Kavulani between August 15 and October 30, 2024.

The prosecution alleges that Manyora used “fraudulent tricks” to convince Kavulani that he could facilitate the award of a multi-million shilling engineering tender (TNH/ITB/016/24/ENGINEERING) at Nairobi Hospital for her company, Sipho Construction Limited.

The court heard that the complainant was induced to part with the funds under the belief that the analyst held sufficient influence to secure the contract, a claim the prosecution maintains was entirely fraudulent.

Through his legal team, which includes veteran lawyers Danstan Omari and Nelson Havi, Manyora sought lenient bond terms, arguing that he is a law-abiding citizen who had already complied with summons from the DCI’s Economic and Commercial Crimes Unit.

Magistrate Mutai noted that Manyora had previously been released on police bond and had not breached any conditions. While the Sh2 million personal bond was granted, the court directed the matter to be mentioned on April 13, 2026, for further directions.

The charges come at a time when Manyora has been deeply embroiled in a fierce leadership battle at Nairobi Hospital.

For several months, rival factions have clashed over the board’s chairmanship, with one side led by Dr Barcley Onyambu and the other by Manyora himself.

The ongoing disputes have drawn the attention of the state, with President William Ruto recently warning that the government would not allow “charlatans and fraudsters” to take the premier health institution hostage.