DPP makes U-turn, rescinds his decision to withdraw case against former Samburu Governor Lenolkulal

By , K24 Digital
On Fri, 14 Oct, 2022 11:42 | 2 mins read
DPP Noordin Haji. PHOTO/Courtesy
DPP Noordin Haji. PHOTO/Courtesy

The Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji has dropped his bid to withdraw charges against former Samburu Governor Moses Kasaine Lenolkulal in the Ksh84 million corruption case.

The new development comes after Haji, through Senior State counsel Alexander Muteti, on Friday October 14, 2022, informed Milimani Trial Magistrate Thomas Nzioki that he will not drop the charges against Lenolkulal and his co-accused persons.

Muteti also withdrew a formal application the DPP had filed on Thursday seeking to have withdrawn the charges against the former county boss and others.

The magistrate then allowed the request and fixed the matter for further hearing on January 30, 2023.

This means that the case involving Lenolkulal and his co-accused persons will proceed to full trial and to it's logical conclusion.

The move comes after on Wednesday the DPP made an oral application seeking to have the charges against the accused person whose trial is at its tail end dropped under section 87 (a) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

But the Trial Magistrate directed the DPP to file a formal application seeking to have the charges against the accused persons withdrawn.

Lenolkulal is charged alongside former county secretary Stephen Siringa Letinina, former Chief County Secretary Daniel Nakuo Lenolkirina, Josephine Naamo Lenasalia, and Reuben Marumben Lemunyete.

Also facing trial is the former county boss proxy Hesbon Ndathi.

In the case, Lenolkulal, businessman Ndathi, and nine others are linked to the Ksh84.7 million-fuel-supply scandal in which Oryx Service Station, owned by Lenolkulal was given a tender to supply the county government against the law.

It is alleged that they committed the offence between March 27, 2013 and March 25, 2019 at Maralal town.

According to the prosecution, the service station received Ksh84.6 million from the county government and shared between the Governor and his proxy Ndathi.

It is alleged that the Governor was trading with the county government through Oryx Service Station for the supply of fuel since March 27, 2013.

The prosecution claims the Governor failed and or neglected to disclose his interest in the said service station.

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