DPP Withdraws Case Against Lands CAS Kimani Ngunjiri’s Daughter

The daughter of Chief Secretary for Land Administration Kimani Ngunjiri, Edith Kimani, was granted relief after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) dropped corruption charges against her on Tuesday, March 28.

According to the DPP, the evidence against Kimani was insufficient to support the charges against him. Kimani, a former chief business officer in Nakuru, was charged with corruption along with six other former Nakuru county officials.

The defendants include Jackson Maingi Keiro, Nickson Kibet Cheruyoit, Anne Njeri Muranja, Florence Karanja Wanjiku, Edith Wangari Maina and Jane Njoki Mwaura.

Haji had accused the six of allegedly conspiring to steal public money intended for the construction of market stalls in Nakuru.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), in conjunction with the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI), investigated and recommended charges against the defendants and contractors.

According to EACC, the contractors were only able to build one market instead of the agreed two, which cost around Ksh 10 million.

EAC also revealed that the contractors were paid only Ksh 3.9 million instead of Ksh 10 million provided by the county government.

Unfortunately, the market collapsed a few months after it was built in Kiratina Market.

In addition, investigators noted that members of the tender committee did not participate in the opening exercise, as claimed. Reports claimed that no bids were registered.

The contractors who won the tenders were also charged with not submitting a valid tax compliance certificate. The submitted documents would expire on January 27, 2017, before the start of the bidding process.

The seven persons of interest were arrested and charged on January 31, 2023, after DPP Noordin Haji preferred the charges.