Court orders Kidero graft case to proceed today

Former Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero (second from right) with his lawyers (from left to right) Julie Soweto, James Orengo and Tom Ojienda outside a Milimani court on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, when Kidero and other individuals he`s charged within a corruption case turned up for hearing of their case. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

The Sh213 million graft case against former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero will proceed today.

This is after Milimani Court magistrate Douglas Ogoti yesterday declined to adjourn the case over the Covid-19 pandemic saying, the court will observe Ministry of Health regulations during the hearing.

According to Ogoti, the court will only allow the accused persons, their lawyers and the media to access the physical court.

The hearing was scheduled yesterday and today.

“Open space according to the Ministry of Health regulations can hold up to 30 persons. Based on the issues raised on Covid-19, the court will adhere to strict regulations. Only counsels, accused persons and media personnel will be allowed,” ruled Ogoti.

Kidero was charged in 2018 alongside former Head of Treasury Maurice Ochieng’ Okere, Lilian Wanjiru, Jimmy Kiamba, Gregory Mwakanongo, Stephen Osiro, Luke Gatimu, John Njogu and Grace Githua.

They are accused of conspiring to commit an offence of corruption leading to the loss of Sh213 million from Nairobi County.

They have denied the charges.