Former Nairobi Governor Faces Fresh Charges in Court

Former Nairobi Governor Faces Fresh Charges in Court

29 April 2019: Former Nairobi county boss Evans Kidero is appearing in court today together with 10 other people to answer to graft charges relating to payments of Kshs68 million to a legal firm.

According to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the payment to Wachira Mburu, Mwangi and Company advocates was irregular and was made under the instructions of the then acting Director of legal affairs Nairobi City Council, and now Member of Parliament for Nyakach Constituency, Mr. Aduma Joshua Owuor.

Mr. Owuor is said to have instructed Mr. Steven Kariuki of Wachira Mburu/ Mwangi Company Advocates to act on behalf of the City Council in HCC No. 875 of 2010 Kyavee Holdings Limited Versus City Council of Nairobi without following the laid down procedure.

Investigations by the Commission further established that Kyavee Holding Limited does not exist and therefore it had no legal capacity to sue Nairobi City Council. It also reveals that the property in dispute, L.R No 209/8254, is Mariakani Primary School’s playground and has never been re-allocated and therefore Kyavee Holding Limited had no claim on the land.

Investigations also reveal that the advocate representing Kyavee Holding Limited did not possess a valid practising certificate at the material time, and that there was no service rendered to the county government to justify the payment of Kshs68 million.

The suspects face charges of conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption; unlawful acquisition of public property; abuse of office, dealing with suspect property and money laundering. The office of the Director of Prosecutions has approved the prosecutions.

Dr. Kidero is charged alongside Mr. George Wainana Njogu (former county Chief of Staff and Director Cups Limited); Mr. Paul Mutunga Mutungi (former City Councillor); Aduma Joshua Owuor; Mr. John Ndirangu Kariuki (former city mayor); Mr. Manasseh Karanja Kepha (Ag. Deputy Director Internal Audit); Ms. Philomena Kavinya Nzuki (principal county accountant); accountants Ng’ang’a Mungai Ng’ang’a, Charity Muringo Ndiritu, Peterson Andrew Njiru, Ekaya Alumasi, James Mimi Mbugua, Elizabeth Wanjiru Nderitu and Alice Njeri Mundia. The others are Ms. Hannah Muthoni Kariuki (reecipient of Kshs11 million), and Mr. John Ngari Wainana (co-Director Cups Limited).