Kidero Corruption Cases: Former Nairobi County Governor Evans Kidero has been arrested again in a fresh wave of Friday arrests.
Mr. Kidero wad arrested together with former County Chief of Staff George Wainaina.
Emerhing reports say that his latest arrest follows investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission over the irregular payment of Sh. 68 million to a law firm.
EACC has been investigating allegations of irregular payment of the money to M/S Wachira Mburu, Mwangi and Company Advocates.
In a press statement, the Director of Public Prosecutions said that after reviewing the file submitted by EACC, there was enough evidence to charge Dr. Kidero and others over the suspected illegal payment.
This is the third time that Kidero is being arrested. Kidero was on August, 8, 2018 arrested by EACC detectives and questioned at their headquarters at Integrity Centre.
On the orders of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Kidero and six former county officials were arraigned in court and charged with corruption and other economic crimes.
The Six officials charged alongside Kidero are County Secretary Lilian Ndegwa, Former finance and planning executive Gregory Mwakanongo, former chief finance officer Jimmy Mutuku, former accounting head Stephen Osiro, former acting head of Treasury Maurice Okere and Luke Mugo who was the former acting chief finance officer.
In the first count, Kidero with former Head of Treasury Maurice Ochieng’ Okere were charged with conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption leading to the loss of Sh. 213 million from the NCC.
“On diverse dates between January 16, 2014 and January 25, 2016, at Nairobi City County, (the accused) jointly conspired to commit a fraud leading to loss of public funds in the sum of Sh. 213,327,300 for services not rendered,” read the charge sheet.
The other suspects who worked with companies Lodwar Wholesalers Ltd and Ngurumani Traders Ltd were Ms Grace Njeri and Mr John Githua – The duo was charged with conspiracy to commit fraud, which caused the county government to lose Sh. 213,327,300 between years 2014 and 2016.
Allegedly, the suspects conspired to authorise the payment of cash to various companies for services that were not offered. It is reported that Lodwar Wholesalers Ltd, on different dates, deposited Sh. 24 million to ex-governor Kidero.
However, the suspects denied all the charges against them. Dr. Kidero was later released after posting a cash bail of Sh. 2 million.
In September 2018, detectives raided his home at 2 am and rearrested him again.