Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and nine former county officials have been cleared of corruption charges involving Sh213.3 million, after the Anti-Corruption Court found that the prosecution failed to establish strong evidence against them.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Milimani Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Victor Wakumile said the prosecution did not present sufficient proof to link Kidero and his co-accused to the alleged irregular payments made to two companies for goods and services that were reportedly not delivered during Kidero’s tenure.
“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,” Magistrate Wakumile stated.
The acquitted officials include former County Finance Chief Jimmy Kiamba, ex-County Secretary Lilian Ndegwa, and other senior staff who faced charges such as abuse of office, conspiracy to defraud, and financial misconduct.
The court, however, ruled that Stephen Ogago Osiro, former Nairobi County Head of Accounting, still has a case to answer.
Magistrate Wakumile noted that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant his defence, and the matter will proceed to the defence hearing stage.
The ruling offers significant relief to Kidero, who has faced multiple corruption investigations since leaving office in 2017, and removes the burden of these specific allegations against him and his team.
