Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero grilled by Ethics and Anti- Corruption Commission over graft allegations

Nairobi, Kenya - Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero was among those who were grilled by anti-graft agency Thursday over corruption allegations.

Kidero arrived at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters at about 10 am to face two major inquiries. He arrived at the EACC accompanied by his supporters.

According to the commission, one of the allegations levelled against Kidero is the procurement irregularities by officers of Nairobi County government in the signing of an MoU with Foton East Africa.

It is alleged that the governor had signed a deal worth Sh4.6 billion in a plan to launch metro transportation system and the process is suspected to have been flawed. He has denied the allegations.

EACC is also looking into allegations that before Kidero, now Nairobi Governor, left Mumias Sugar Company, he processed legal fees of Sh300 million and instantly paid Sh280 million for services not rendered to the company.

The payment is alleged to have been paid to Mr Ojienda’s personal account and not an account held by the contracted law firm of Ojienda & Co Advocates.

Ojienda has since moved to court to block the commission from their probe. The court ordered the commission to reveal to the court the nature of the investigation.

He is among 12 governors who were named in a dossier that was tabled in Parliament by the president two weeks ago. Some of the other governors have since recorded their statements.

Sources said at least two governors could face charges anytime now if and when the Director of Public Prosecutions agrees with the recommendations of the commission.

A multi-agency taskforce comprising persons from the DPP, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) as well as EACC is handling the cases.

They have so far interrogated a number of those mentioned in the cases.

This follows President Kenyatta’s 60-day deadline for the conclusion of the investigations into public officials who include five Cabinet Secretaries.

“The investigating authority must ensure that the Director of Public Prosecutions has received the subject files without delay,” Kenyatta directed when he presented the confidential EACC report including their names to Parliament two weeks ago.