Evans Kidero, nine others acquitted in Sh213 million corruption case
Chief Magistrate Victor Wakumile ruled that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against Kidero and his co-accused over alleged irregular payments amounting to Sh213 million.
The Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi has acquitted former Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero and nine ex-county officials in a multimillion-shilling corruption case, citing a lack of evidence by the prosecution.
Delivering the ruling on Thursday, Milimani Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Victor Wakumile ruled that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against Kidero and his co-accused over alleged irregular payments amounting to Sh213 million.
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The case involved claims that the accused persons authorised payments to two companies for goods and services that were never supplied during Kidero's tenure as governor.
Magistrate Wakumile noted that the evidence presented did not meet the legal threshold required to sustain the 17 corruption-related charges filed against the former county boss and his co-accused.
"After careful evaluation of the testimony and documentary evidence presented, the court finds that the prosecution has failed to prove its case. Consequently, all accused persons, save for one, are acquitted under Section 210 of the Criminal Procedure Code," said the magistrate.
Those acquitted alongside Kidero include former County Finance Chief Jimmy Kiamba, ex-County Secretary Lilian Ndegwa, and several other senior officials who had been charged with abuse of office, conspiracy to defraud, and financial misconduct.
However, the court ruled that former Nairobi County Head of Accounting, Stephen Ogago Osiro, has a case to answer.
Magistrate Wakumile observed that there was sufficient evidence linking him to some of the transactions under scrutiny, warranting his defence.
The acquittal marks a significant relief for Dr Kidero, who has faced a string of corruption-related cases since leaving office in 2017.
The matter will proceed to the defence hearing stage for Osiro, the sole remaining accused person.
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