A Nairobi court has heard shocking allegations against Mohamed Osman Abdile, the former finance manager at Mega Shopping Mall in Eastleigh, accused of orchestrating a massive Sh296 million theft and money laundering scheme spanning seven years.
Prosecutors have charged Abdile with 30 counts, including conspiracy to commit a felony, stealing by servant, money laundering and possession of proceeds of crime depicting what they describe as one of the most audacious employee theft cases in recent Kenyan history.
According to court documents, Abdile allegedly siphoned funds belonging to the mall’s owner, Abdi Mohamed Ali, between January 2018 and February 2025, exploiting his position of trust to funnel money through his company, Fatzam Enterprises Limited (FEL), and other entities to conceal the source.
Prosecutors told the court that investigators traced more than Sh116 million to FEL accounts across major banks, including KCB, Absa and Equity, and that Abdile was also found in possession of over Sh107 million believed to be proceeds of crime.
Fellow director Hussein Ibrahim Barre, who is also charged was absent during plea taking, raising questions about his whereabouts.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, Abdile was released on a Sh3 million bond or Sh2 million cash bail after pleading not guilty to all counts.
The case has shone a spotlight on corporate oversight and financial controls within Kenya’s retail and commercial sectors, especially in bustling business hubs like Eastleigh.
The matter will return to court for further directions as the prosecution prepares to present its evidence.
