Kidero arrested as DPP okays charges over Ksh.68M irregular payout

Embattled former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has been arrested yet again after the country’s top Prosecutor linked him to irregular payment of Ksh.68million to a law firm.

A statement from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution on Friday identified the law firm as that of M/s Wachira Mburu; Mwangi & Company Advocates.

Also Read: Ksh.213M corruption case against Kidero to be heard next year

“The DPP has directed that the suspects be arraigned in court and prosecuted,” a statement released from DPP Noordin Haji on Friday said.

They are facing charges of abuse of office, money laundering, conspiracy to commit offence of corruption, unlawful acquisition of public property and dealing with suspect property.

Kidero, John Ndirangu Kariuki (former Nairobi Mayor), Paul Mutunga Mutungi (former councillor) and George Wainaina Njogu (former Nairobi County Government Chief of Staff) have also been arrested.

According to the DPP’s statement, Njogu is a co-director at Cups Limited, a firm that was also under investigation.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is said to have submitted the duplicate inquiry file to the DPP on December 11, 2018.

However, gaps were identified calling for further investigations; the file was resubmitted on April 4 this year.

Eight other suspects who are all accountants at the Nairobi City County include Philomena Kavinya Nzuki (principal accountant), Ng’ang’a Mungai Ng’ang’a, Charity Miringo Ndiritu, Peterson Andrew Njiru, Ekaya Alumasi, James Mimi Mbugua, Elizabeth Wanjiru Nderitu and Alice Njeri Mundia.

Another accountant, Hannah Muthoni Kariuki, is alleged to have received Ksh.11million in the latest corruption scandal to be unearthed at the Nairobi County Government.

Manasseh Karanja Kepha, a former accountant at the Legal Affairs Department within the then Nairobi City Council is also a suspect.

He is now the acting Deputy Director Internal Audit at Nairobi City County.

EACC detectives are also looking for Aduma Joshua Owuor (former Acting Director Legal Affairs) and John Ngari Wainaina (co-director Cups Limited).

The DPP is said to have found that the evidence was sufficient to also support criminal charges against Cup Limited, putting the the total number of suspects in the case at 17.