Court grants governor Ali Korane bail

Garissa Governor Ali Korane who was Tuesday charged in a Sh233m graft case will earn his freedom if he pays a Sh3.25 million cash bail, a Nairobi court has ruled.

Alternatively, he will be released from the Ethics Anti Anti-Corruption Commission's custody if he deposits a Sh5 million bond with one surety.

The first-time governor was charged alongside four members of his administration over the misappropriation of Sh233 million World Bank funds meant for Kenya Urban Support Program (KUSP).

Investigators said funds channeled through the National Treasury to the Garissa County government were transferred to the Garissa Municipal Board and then to individuals’ accounts.

Korane's co-accused are former chief of finance Ibrahim Nur Malow, head of treasury Mohamed Ahmed Abdullahi, County Executive Officer municipality Abdi Shale and Head of accounting at the municipal Ahmed Abdulahi Aden.

They were accused of eight criminal counts including conspiring to commit an offence of economic crime, wilfully failing to comply with laws related to management of funds and misappropriation of public funds.

They all denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court.

Korane's co-accused will each be released on a Sh1.2 million cash bail.

Magistrate Ogoti has barred them from accessing their offices and directed that they deposit their passport to the court. Korane becomes the sixth governor to be barred from setting foot at the county office over allegations of corruption. 

The judge cautioned the accused against interfering with witnesses in the case.

The prosecution, led by Assistant DPP Alexander Muteti, had asked the court for stringent bail terms, including barring them from accessing the county offices.

The case will be mentioned on October 23, 2020.