Tukero Ole Kina appear before Kilifi Chief Magistrate James Mwaniki on Friday, August 28, 2026 where he sort protection from the court during cross examination in his alleged role in a Sh. 32 million fraud case involving Italian nationals Danielle Lo Coco and Massimo Nativi. Photo by Ben Okweingoti. 
By Ben Okweingoti
A prominent Malindi lawyer was forced to seek the protection of a Kilifi court during a tense cross-examination in an ongoing Sh32 million fraud case involving two Italian nationals accused of obtaining millions of shillings through alleged fraudulent villa sublease deals in Watamu.
Lawyer Tukero Ole Kina was appearing before Kilifi Chief Magistrate James Mwaniki when he sought the court's intervention over questions posed by the plaintiff's lawyer, Ndegwa Njiiri, regarding his alleged involvement in the preparation of sale agreements for villas at Rafiki Villas Limited.
The disputed properties were allegedly linked to transactions involving Mr Fiorenzo Girola, Ms Rosa Tettamanzi and Ms Rita Nappo.
The two Italian nationals are accused of obtaining Sh15 million from Girola and Sh17 million from Nappo by allegedly pretending that they were in a position to sublease villas at Rafiki Village in Watamu.
In the first count, the accused were charged with obtaining Sh17 million from Nappo on various dates between August 30, 2018, and August 1, 2019.
The prosecution alleges that, with intent to defraud, the two jointly obtained the money by falsely pretending that they were in a position to sublease Villa No. 5A, situated on Plot No. Kilifi/Jimba/1544, measuring approximately 0.327 hectares.
The accused are alleged to have known that the representation was false.
In the second count, the two were charged with obtaining Sh15 million from Girola on various dates between March 21, 2020, and February 24, 2021.
It is alleged that they obtained the money by falsely claiming that they were in a position to sublease Villa No. 4B, also located on Plot No. Kilifi/Jimba/1544.
The prosecution maintains that the accused knew the claim was false at the time they allegedly received the money.
The case has drawn attention due to the high-profile nature of the parties involved and the multi-million-shilling transactions at the centre of the dispute.
The hearing is ongoing.
