Former Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal Acquitted in KSh83 Million Corruption Case
They maintained that the former governor was unfairly targeted and that the contracts followed due process.
Former Samburu governor Moses Lenolkulal .photo/courtesy
By Linda kisia
Former Samburu Governor Moses Kasaine Lenolkulal was released after the High Court annulled his previous conviction in a KSh 83 million corruption case in which he was accused of conflict of interest.
Lenolkulal had been previously convicted of conducting fuel supply transactions between Samburu County Government and Oryx Service Station, a company the prosecution said was connected to him. Upon his conviction, he had been sentenced to eight years in prison or a fine equivalent to the alleged amount as an alternative.
In a dramatic turn of events, however, the High Court overturned both the conviction and the sentence, holding that the prosecution had failed to prove its case. The judge ruled that there was no evidence that Lenolkulal either owned or controlled Oryx Service Station or that he had benefited personally from the fuel supply contracts.
During the judgment, the court said the prosecution case against the former governor was based on suspicion and not actual evidence. It also came out that Oryx Service Station had been leased out to another businessman at the time of transactions, which means Lenolkulal did not benefit directly from the contracts in question.
Other accused persons present in court alongside Lenolkulal included a former Samburu County official and a businessman who had been co-charged, and the court discharged all of them from any wrongdoing. This ruling now clears all the accused persons and restores their freedom, bringing to an end the protracted legal battle that had shadowed Lenolkulal’s political career since his time in office.
The judgment was welcomed by Lenolkulal’s legal team, who argued the prosecution relied heavily on speculation and never proved any conflict of interest beyond reasonable doubt. They maintained that the former governor was unfairly targeted and that the contracts followed due process.
Delivering the judgment, the judge reminded public officers that they must act with circumspection to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. As the court discharged Lenolkulal, it reminded state officials to exercise good stewardship in the management of public resources and act in a manner that does not raise suspicion of a conflict of interest even when personal gain is not proven. The decision by the High Court not only lifts the heavy sentence imposed on the former governor but also sets a precedent on the evidentiary standards required in conflict of interest and corruption-related cases.
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