The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has once again dropped corruption charges against a high-profile personality.
This time around, the DPP withdrew charges against Edith Kimani, the daughter of politician and current Lands Chief Administrative Secretary Kimani Ngunjiri.
Edith Kimani, who is also a former Nakuru County Chief Officer for Trade, was charged alongside seven others with embezzlement of public funds in the construction of market sheds at Kiratina market in Menengai Ward of Nakuru County.
Edith Kimani alongside six other suspects including officers of the Nakuru County Government and the directors of Levi contractors; the company contracted to construct the Kiratina market sheds, were arrested and charged in court on the 31st of January 2023.
The other suspects include; Jackson Maingi Keiro, Nickson Kibet Cheruyoit, Anne Njeri Muranja, Florence Karanja Wanjiku, Edith Wangari Maina and Jane Njoki Mwaura.
The suspects were arrested after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) received allegations that the county government of Nakuru had paid around Ksh.10 million for the construction of Kiratina market.
It was alleged that Levi contractors limited after winning the tender to construct two market sheds only put up one.
Investigations found that an incompetent contractor was engaged, which led to the collapse of the structure before it was handed over to the county. To date, it has not been completed.
Further investigations revealed that Levi Contractors was paid Kshs.3,972,849.20 but did not construct two sheds, the procurement was marred by irregularities, the alleged members of the tender opening Committee did not take part in the tender opening exercise and no tender opening register was ever opened.
It further emerged that Levi Contractors did not submit a valid Tax Compliance Certificate. Its Tax Compliance Certificate expired on 27th January 2017 before the tendering process commenced.
But in a new development, the DPP withdrew the charges against the first accused Edith Wanjiru Kimani, informing the court that the evidence against Kimani was not sufficient to sustain charges against her.
The other co-accused persons were charged afresh on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, based on an amended charge sheet.
The case will be mentioned on the 11th of April 2023 ahead of a hearing on the 16th and 17th of October 2023.
This is one among many high-profile persons whose corruption cases have been dropped by the DPP in the recent past, including Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, former Kenya Power Managing Director Ben Chumo, Kenya Pipeline MD Joe Sang and former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko.
