Embattled Bomas CEO Peter Gitaa released on Ksh.1M bail

Embattled Bomas of Kenya CEO Peter Gitaa has pleaded not guilty to eight counts of failure to comply with procurement laws.

Gitaa, who was on April 26 arrested by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives over an alleged Ksh.8,587,831 procurement fraud was granted a cash bail of Ksh.1 million.

In a ruling on Monday, Magistrate Thomas Nzuki granted the accused person bail or an alternative bond of Ksh.5 million and a surety of a similar amount.

The court further directed that he deposits his travelling document and not to interfere with witnesses.

Prosecution was ordered to supply witness statements and any other documents that it will rely on the case.

While asking for Gitaa’s release on bail, his lawyers said the charges levelled against him are malicious.

They asked for a lenient cash bail as Gitaa has been out of employment since last year with no salary.

The prosecution did not oppose to his release on bail and urged the court to consider the nature of the offences.

“We are asking that he deposits his passport if he has one before court," prosecution told the court.

The ODPP said that there's no malice in presenting the charges as it had been done pursuant to lawful investigations.

Lawyer Danstan Omari insisted that the accused has been charged based on malice saying that Gitaa was interdicted and after that he moved to court where he obtained orders.

"He was allowed back ,he reported to office on Thursday,he was arrested on Friday that's the context that we want the court to see that the state is determined to ensure that the accused does not go back to work," submitted Omari.

Peter Gitaa Koria is charged with wilful failure to comply with laws relating to procurement.

"Between 29th December 2020 and 30 June 2021 within Nairobi City County being the CEO and accounting officer of a public body being Bomas of Kenya you wilfully failed to comply with the law relating to procurement to wit .....by engaging in a procurement process which was not factored inthe procurement plan in relation to quotation 15 kitchen items ,16 utensils , quotation 17 kitchen items, Quotation 18 plates and cups and 19  cutlery and other items during the financial year 2020/2021,"reads the charge sheet.