The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji was on Wednesday, July 17, barred from tweeting about the ongoing Ksh213 million graft case against former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero.
Mr Kidero’s lawyers; led by Phillip Nyachoti, Paul Angarwa, Willie Otieno and Nelson Havi, said the DPP “has been discussing the ex-governor’s case with Kenyans online”.
“The DPP has opened a baraza online, where he discusses Kidero and his co-accused on a daily basis. That act undermines the dignity of the court,” said the accused’s lawyers, who alleged that Haji’s team usually start tweeting about Mr Kidero from 6pm to 10pm after the adjournment of the trial.
The defense lawyers told Magistrate Douglas Ogoti that the DPP is “bent on jeopardising and influencing the outcome of the trial”.
“There are over 200 tweets out there talking about this case. That is one way of inciting the public against the accused,” said Mr Kidero’s lawyers.
The magistrate, as a result, directed the DPP and his team to “show dignity when handling Mr Kidero’s graft case”.
The Prosecution counsel, Joseph Riungu, promised that proceedings of the Kidero case won’t – henceforth -- end on up social media.
Mr Kidero and 13 others are in court over a Ksh213 million corruption accusation.
