The anti-corruption court has been forced to adjourn the hearing of a graft case against former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero after a prosecution witness failed to turn up for a scheduled hearing
Proceedings will now resume on 3 July.
Judge Douglas Ogoti said that court was unhappy with how the matter was proceeding, warning the investigating officer to never, again, appear in court without a witness.
Ogoti termed adjournment unfortunate on the premise that the dates had been set following consensus by the parties, directing the prosecution to organize witness statements and serve all the defense teams.
Kidero has been charged together with eight others including former chief officers in his administration over the alleged loss of KSh213 million but have denied all the 35 counts.
The charges include corruption and economic crime including conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, abuse of office, fraudulent acquisition of public property, dealing with suspect property, and unlawful failure to pay tax to a public body.
Ex-chief officer (health) Robert Ayisi, a fortnight ago, sought to justify payments to companies traders – Lodwar Wholesalers Ltd and Ngurumani Traders Ltd, by submitting in court a total of 21 payment vouchers in court.
The payments were made between 21 March 2014 and December 2016.
In relation to Nguramani, he said there were 18 folios with transfers totaling to KSh9.5 million.
Others facing charges are former County Secretary Lilian Ndegwa, former Chief Finance Officer Jimmy Mutuku Kiamba, former County Executive Committee Member in charge of finance and planning Gregory Mwakanongo, former accounting head Stephen Ogago Osiro, former acting Chief Finance Officer Luke Mugo and former acting head of Treasury Maurice Ochieng Okere.
The county officials allegedly conspired to commit corruption by authorizing payment to various companies, for services not rendered.
Kidero is said to have received a total of KSh24 million from Lodwar Wholesalers Ltd – KSh14M on 24 August 2014 and another KSh10M on 11 September the same year.
