Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero Acquitted in Ksh213 Million Corruption Case
Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero is now a free man after the High Court in Nairobi cleared him of all charges in a Ksh213 million corruption case.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Victor Wakumile, found that the prosecution failed to prove any of the 17 counts of corruption that had been brought against Kidero and nine of his former county officials.
Justice Wakumile explained that the prosecution did not provide enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Kidero and his co-accused made illegal payments to two companies for goods and services that were never supplied.
According to the judge, the available evidence did not meet the legal threshold required to support the corruption allegations.
Although Kidero was acquitted, the court ruled that the former Nairobi County Head of Accounting still had a case to answer. The judge said the prosecution had presented enough material evidence to require the ex-officer to respond to certain allegations.
Dr. Evans Kidero, who served as Nairobi’s first governor between 2013 and 2017, had faced serious corruption and economic crime charges.
These included accusations of conspiracy to commit corruption, abuse of office, and the fraudulent acquisition of public property. The case had dragged on for years, attracting widespread public interest and scrutiny.
Kidero was charged alongside several other senior Nairobi County officials, among them the County Secretary, Chief Finance Officer, Finance and Planning Executive, Acting Chief Finance Officer, and Acting Head of Treasury.
They were all accused of conspiring to defraud the Nairobi County Government of Ksh213,327,300 between January 16, 2014, and January 25, 2016.
Throughout the court proceedings, Kidero maintained his innocence, often questioning the credibility and authenticity of the evidence presented against him.
His legal team challenged the admissibility of certain bank statements submitted by the prosecution, arguing that they should have been produced in court by authorized bank representatives to preserve the integrity of the chain of evidence.
In 2024, the High Court had granted the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) permission to investigate the bank statements and other financial documents related to the case.
However, Kidero later appealed that decision, arguing that giving EACC such powers was unconstitutional and violated his fundamental rights and freedoms.
Despite his appeal, the Court of Appeal dismissed his challenge and upheld the earlier ruling. The appellate judges confirmed that the EACC was legally empowered to carry out investigations into the alleged financial misconduct.
Kidero’s acquittal marks a major turning point in one of the most high-profile corruption cases involving a former county boss.
The decision is likely to reignite public debate on accountability, the strength of anti-corruption institutions, and the overall effectiveness of Kenya’s judicial system in handling corruption-related cases involving high-ranking public officials.
While Kidero can now walk free, the ruling leaves behind lingering questions about how such massive funds allegedly went missing and who, if anyone, will ultimately be held responsible for the financial loss at Nairobi County.
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