Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, former Embakasi Central MP John Ndirangu Kariuki and eleven other persons were on Friday, September 1, 2023, charged with defrauding City Hall Ksh58 million nine years ago.
Appearing before Milimani Anti-Corruption Chief Magistrate Felix Kombo, Kidero and his co-accused persons denied fifteen charges of conspiracy to commit an economic crime, abuse of office, unlawful acquisition of property and money laundering.
The former county boss and the other 12 accused persons denied that between January 6 and 16, 2014, they conspired to defraud Nairobi City County Ksh58 million.
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Kariuki was charged with unlawfully receiving Ksh8.9 million from a deceased advocate Stephen Kariuki Mburu who was a partner in the law firm of Wachira, Mburu, Mwangi and Company Advocates which is at the centre of the multi-million shilling fraud at City Hall.
Both Kidero and Kariuki, who is also a former mayor of Nairobi City Council engaged in an unlawful arrangement to purchase a parcel of land LR. No 10874/1160 (original number 10874/17/2) valued at Ksh 25,735,000.
The charge further states a down payment of Ksh17 million deposited with the law firm towards the purchase of the land was part of Ksh58 million irregularly scooped from Nairobi County.
Kidero was separately charged with unlawfully acquiring Ksh 14.4 million on January 8, 2014, from CUPS Limited which funds were part of Ksh58 million unlawfully paid by the Nairobi City County to the law firm of Wachira, Mburu Mwangi and Company Advocates.
Kidero, alongside former Nairobi County Chief of Staff George Wainaina Njogu, John Ngari Wainaina and the Cups Limited were charged that they colluded to engage in a fraudulent scheme to transfer Ksh14 million to Sagar Builders Limited in respect to the services offered for the sale of Riverside Property in Nairobi knowns as Land no. 205 /46 using proceeds of crime.
Five former senior accountants at Nairobi City County namely Ekaya Alumasi Ghonzour alias Alumasie, Alice Njeri Mundia alias Mundiaa, Elizabeth Wanjiru Nderitu alias Nderitue, James Mimi Mbugua alias Jmbugua and Ng'ang'a Mungai Ng'ang'a alias Ngangalito were charged that on January 6, 2014, they conffered a benefit of Ksh58 million to the law firm of Wachira, Mburu, Mwangi and Company Advocates by unlawfully processing payment of the said amount.
George Wainaina Njogu, John Ngari Wainaina and the Cups Limited were charged with receiving irregularly Ksh15 million from the law firm of Mburu effected by advocate Kariuki now deceased being part of the Ksh58 million from the county.
Further, a former councillor Paul Mutunga Mutungi was accused of receiving Ksh5 million being part of the Ksh58 million and laundering Ksh2 million to pay a debt through the law firm of Mwamuye Kimathi and Kimani Company Advocates being proceeds of crime.
The last count is against Hannah Muthoni Kariuki who has denied receiving Ksh 5.5 million unlawfully from the deceased lawyer with whom Ksh58 million irregularly siphoned from Nairobi County was deposited.
Kidero, co-accused granted bail
After denying the charges filed against them, State prosecutor James Kihara did not oppose the suspects' release on bond terms earlier issued by the court.
The defence team led by Tom Ojienda and Julie Sowete urged the court to release them on bail similar to the earlier one imposed by Magistrate Douglas Ogoti.
Magistrate Kombo freed all the accused persons on previous bond terms of Ksh5 million each.
The magistrate who is on transfer directed the parties to appear before Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki on October 6, 2023, for allocation of trial court and fixing of hearing dates.
Kombo further directed Kidero's co-accused person namely Philomena Kavinya Nzuki alias PK Nzuki, a former accountant at city hall accused of conferring Ksh58 million to the lawful firm of Kariuki to appear before Nzyoki for plea-taking. This is after she failed to turn up in court following the demise of her son.
Kidero and his co-accused were charged after they failed to stop their prosecution at the High Court.
