Court Acquits Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero in Ksh 213 Million Graft Case
According to the prosecution, Kidero knew or ought to have known that these funds were acquired through corrupt dealings.
The case will, however, proceed for counts 18 to 35, where Kidero and his co-accused will have an opportunity to defend themselves against the remaining charges. Photo/courtesy.
By Ruth Sang
Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has been cleared of corruption charges involving Ksh 213 million following a court ruling that acquitted him on several counts. The decision by the court, under Section 210 of the Criminal Procedure Code, was a major development in one of the high-profile graft cases that has grabbed public attention for years.
In its ruling, the court said: “Counts 1 to 17 — all are acquitted under Section 210. For counts 18 to 35, the accused is placed on his defense.” What it means is that Kidero has been cleared of the first set of charges, but a case will still be heard on the rest of the counts.
Kidero had been charged together with several former top Nairobi County officials, among them Lilian Wanjiru Ndegwa, Jimmy Mutuku Kiamba, and Gregory Mwakanongo. He faced charges ranging from abuse of office, handling suspect property to conspiracy to commit a corruption-related offense, all linked to alleged irregular transactions and mismanagement of county funds during his term as the Nairobi County boss.
According to court documents, Kidero was accused of specifically receiving Ksh 14 million on August 29, 2014, and another Ksh 10 million on September 11, 2014, from Lodwar Wholesalers Limited. According to the prosecution, Kidero knew or ought to have known that these funds were acquired through corrupt dealings.
The EACC had charged the former governor and his co-accused, arguing that they benefitted from unlawful transactions at City Hall. According to the EACC, the accused persons colluded and misappropriated public funds to their advantage at the expense of Nairobi residents.
After considering the evidence adduced by the prosecution, the court found that counts 1 through 17 were not proved, and it was held that on those counts, the prosecution failed to make out a prima facie case against the appellant, hence his acquittal.
The ruling has been viewed as a partial victory for Kidero, who has constantly maintained his innocence since the case began. The defense team argued that all transactions cited were legitimate and properly documented, dismissing the corruption allegations as politically motivated. The case will, however, proceed for counts 18 to 35, where Kidero and his co-accused will have an opportunity to defend themselves against the remaining charges. The court’s decision marks a critical point in Kidero’s long-running legal battle as he continues to clear his name from multiple graft allegations dating back to his tenure at the Nairobi County Government.
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