Court declines Wa Iria’s stay application in his corruption case
9:05:2024 A High Court has declined former Murang’a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria’s application seeking to stay recently instituted corruption proceedings against him.
The former Governor was arraigned on 25th April, 2024 where he pleaded not guilty to, among others, conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption.
It is alleged that between October 21, 2014 and June 19, 2017, being the governor of Murang’a County, Mr. Wa Iria who is out on bond, together with nine other accused persons unlawfully contracted for the provisions of media services by Top Image Media Consultant Limited amounting to over Kes543million.
Wa Iria’s counsel made an oral application for stay of proceedings in the Chief Magistrates’ Anti-Corruption Court where Mr. Wa Iria and co-accused are, in Case No. E012 of 2014, charged with various corruption offences.
The matter came up for directions before Justice Prof. Nixon Sifuna, of the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court. In declining the application, Justice Sifuna faulted Mr. Wa Iria’s advocate for altering Court documents without the Court’s permission. He struck out the petition and granted the petitioners leave to amend, file and serve it afresh.
“I hold that this is a drastic action that will require a formal Application, formal responses, as well as submissions by all the parties, followed by a well-considered determination by this Court on merits,” he ruled.
The matter shall be mentioned on 15th May, 2024 to confirm if the Amended Petition will have been filed and served as ordered, and to give further directions on responses and the hearing.
