Two Kenyan-Italians and a Malindi-based politician have been charged over a fire that allegedly destroyed a luxury villa worth KSh667 million in Malindi, Kilifi County.
The three suspects; Franco Esposito, also known as Kososo wa Baya, Elly Esposito, and a local politician, appeared before the Malindi Resident Magistrate’s Court, where they denied the charges brought against them by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
According to the prosecution, the accused are jointly facing a charge of reckless and negligent conduct causing harm, contrary to Section 243(d) of the Penal Code.
The court heard that on May 25, 2026, at Siro Land in Malindi Sub-county, the accused allegedly lit an open fire without taking reasonable precautions to prevent it from spreading.
Prosecutors told the court that the fire became uncontrollable, leading to the destruction of Duma Villa, a high-end property reportedly valued at KSh667 million.
The villa is owned by Nagia Dahmani, who is said to have suffered extensive losses following the incident.
During the proceedings, Mohamed Ahmed, the Prosecuting Counsel asked the court to compel the accused to surrender their passports. He argued that the measure was necessary to guarantee their attendance throughout the trial, citing concerns that they could leave the country’s jurisdiction before the case is concluded.
The prosecution further requested that the travel documents remain in the custody of the court until the hearing and determination of the matter.
After considering the application, Resident Magistrate Eva Adhiambo granted each accused person a personal bond of KSh300,000. She also ordered them to deposit their passports in court as a condition of their release, ensuring they remain available for future court appearances.
The three accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and will remain out on bond pending the hearing of the case.
The matter is scheduled to be mentioned on July 23, 2026, when the court is expected to issue pre-trial directions before the case proceeds to a full hearing.
