Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has been arrested in ongoing investigations into alleged corruption.
Police
and anti-corruption detectives on Thursday morning camped at his city
home in Muthaiga for hours before leaving with him at around 11.30am.
2AM
Sources told the Nation that the team was hunting for cash and documents on a corruption case the ex-governor and ex-Mumias Sugar CEO is battling.
The
detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC),
accompanied by the security officers, arrived at the residence at 2am.
Dr
Kidero, who briefly talked to journalists and denied he was under
arrest, protested the raid, saying it was "pure harassment".
He said he was wondering what evidence the detectives were
looking for yet they did not find anything at his home in their first
raid.
"I
was arrested on the 9th of August. We have been in court twice and
there is no evidence adduced. This morning, EACC came with a search
warrant for my house. It would appear to me that they are looking for
evidence because they never had evidence to arrest me in the first
place. They should have had evidence before arresting me," he said.
"And this is pure harassment, it is a violation of my rights and we will not take this lying down."
But his criticism did not stop the detectives, who left with him as they took the search to his offices in Westlands.
They drove with him to Eldama Park on Eldama Ravine Road, where they started another search for records and bricks of notes.
By half past midday, the search was still ongoing as journalists were locked out.
Dr
Kidero was first arrested on August 8 and, together with other former
county officials who were not in court, charged with corruption and
abuse of office.
The other suspects are former Nairobi
county secretary Lillian Ndegwa, former chief finance officer Jimmy
Mutuku Kiamba, Mr Gregory Mwakanongo, a former chief executive officer
in charge of finance and planning, former accounting head Stephen Ogago
Osiro and Mr Luke Mugo, a former acting chief finance officer.
SH213 MILLION
Also charged were businessman John Githua and Ms Grace Njeri of Lodwar Wholesalers Ltd and Ngurumani Traders Ltd, respectively.
The two companies allegedly received millions from City Hall for services not rendered.
The
court heard that the two accused and seven others, who were not in
court, conspired to commit fraud which led to the loss of Sh213,327,300
at the county government between January 16, 2014, and January 25, 2016.
They allegedly conspired to commit corruption by authorising payment to various companies for services not rendered.
Dr Kidero allegedly received a total of Sh24 million from Lodwar Wholesalers Ltd on diverse dates.
He
allegedly received Sh14 million from Lodwar Wholesalers on August 24,
2014 and another Sh10 million from the same company on September 11,
2014.
The prosecution claimed that the money was acquired through corrupt dealings.
Mr Okere denied several charges of authorising several payments for services not rendered.
It
is alleged that he authorised several payments to Ngurumani Traders and
Lodwar Wholesalers, yet there was no service rendered.
Evans Kidero arrested over graft claims, again
Thursday September 20 2018
Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has been arrested in ongoing investigations into alleged corruption.
Police
and anti-corruption detectives on Thursday morning camped at his city
home in Muthaiga for hours before leaving with him at around 11.30am.
2AM
Sources told the Nation that the team was hunting for cash and documents on a corruption case the ex-governor and ex-Mumias Sugar CEO is battling.
The
detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC),
accompanied by the security officers, arrived at the residence at 2am.
Dr
Kidero, who briefly talked to journalists and denied he was under
arrest, protested the raid, saying it was "pure harassment".
He said he was wondering what evidence the detectives were
looking for yet they did not find anything at his home in their first
raid.
"I
was arrested on the 9th of August. We have been in court twice and
there is no evidence adduced. This morning, EACC came with a search
warrant for my house. It would appear to me that they are looking for
evidence because they never had evidence to arrest me in the first
place. They should have had evidence before arresting me," he said.
"And this is pure harassment, it is a violation of my rights and we will not take this lying down."
But his criticism did not stop the detectives, who left with him as they took the search to his offices in Westlands.
They drove with him to Eldama Park on Eldama Ravine Road, where they started another search for records and bricks of notes.
By half past midday, the search was still ongoing as journalists were locked out.
Dr
Kidero was first arrested on August 8 and, together with other former
county officials who were not in court, charged with corruption and
abuse of office.
The other suspects are former Nairobi
county secretary Lillian Ndegwa, former chief finance officer Jimmy
Mutuku Kiamba, Mr Gregory Mwakanongo, a former chief executive officer
in charge of finance and planning, former accounting head Stephen Ogago
Osiro and Mr Luke Mugo, a former acting chief finance officer.
SH213 MILLION
Also charged were businessman John Githua and Ms Grace Njeri of Lodwar Wholesalers Ltd and Ngurumani Traders Ltd, respectively.
The two companies allegedly received millions from City Hall for services not rendered.
The
court heard that the two accused and seven others, who were not in
court, conspired to commit fraud which led to the loss of Sh213,327,300
at the county government between January 16, 2014, and January 25, 2016.
They allegedly conspired to commit corruption by authorising payment to various companies for services not rendered.
Dr Kidero allegedly received a total of Sh24 million from Lodwar Wholesalers Ltd on diverse dates.
He
allegedly received Sh14 million from Lodwar Wholesalers on August 24,
2014 and another Sh10 million from the same company on September 11,
2014.
The prosecution claimed that the money was acquired through corrupt dealings.
Mr Okere denied several charges of authorising several payments for services not rendered.
It
is alleged that he authorised several payments to Ngurumani Traders and
Lodwar Wholesalers, yet there was no service rendered.
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