Benson Sande Ndeta, the proprietor of Savannah Clinker, has been arrested over allegations of a Sh700 million fraud.

He faces charges of forgery, conspiracy to defraud, obtaining credit by false pretences, and uttering false documents.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) uncovered the allegations, leading the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to approve charges.

Senior Prosecutor Jacinta Nyamosi issued warrants for Ndeta and his alleged accomplice, American national Charles Hill Jr. Extradition requests for Hill are underway.

The allegations revolve around a fraudulent acquisition of 4,500 shares in Savannah Cement, shifting the company's ownership.

Read More

  1. Anne Waiguru calls for special police unit within the DCI to address femicide crisis
  2. Detectives make crucial arrest in murder case of former Wells Fargo HR manager
  3. DCI moves to let Mandago off the hook in Sh1.1 billion scholarship fiasco case

Investigators claim Ndeta and Hill forged corporate guarantee documents in 2017 to secure a USD 35 million loan from Barclays Bank.

Hill also allegedly defaulted on a Sh700 million share purchase agreement with Savannah Heights shareholder Donald Kiboro.

Savannah Cement, once a key player in Kenya’s cement sector, now faces Sh18 billion in debt, including Sh14 billion owed to local banks.

The company was placed under administration in 2023, with its assets auctioned to settle liabilities.

Despite the turmoil, Ndeta is pursuing a Sh25.42 billion bid to acquire Bamburi Cement, outbidding rival Amsons.

Regulatory approval remains a hurdle, with Savannah Clinker requiring clearance from the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK).

Ndeta’s legal troubles cast doubt on his Bamburi bid and his long-standing influence in the industry.

His history includes chairing East African Portland Cement in 2003 and co-founding Savannah Cement in 2012, though disputes over ownership have plagued the company since its inception.