Okemo, Gichuru case still pending

By Isaiah Lucheli

Extradition proceedings against two prominent Kenyans remain suspended pending a High Court decision.

The matter came up on Thursday before Senior Principal Magistrate Grace Macharia.

Nambale MP Chris Okemo and former Kenya Power and Lighting Company Managing Director James Gichuru are fighting a move to extradite them to Jersey Island to answer to money laundering and corruption charges.

The two are wanted over charges of receiving bribes from international companies between 1999 and 2002 to award tenders.

Mr Okemo and Mr Gichuru had filed an application at the magistrate’s court saying Patrick Kiage cannot continue to prosecute them until the High Court determines his legal status as a prosecutor. The case is before Justice Msagha Mbogoli.

The magistrate held that Mr Kiage should cease acting for the State unless appointed properly, as stipulated by the law. She further expunged all the submissions made by him in the case.

barred

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) then filed an application at the High Court seeking to revise the ruling by Macharia that barred Kiage from prosecuting the case.

In his appeal, the DPP says that Macharia erred in her ruling and wants the High Court to overturn her decision. The DPP argues that the matter was still pending in court and, therefore, the magistrate should not have made such a decision.

The DPP says the move has far-reaching and adverse ramifications on prosecutions undertaken by the directorate, well beyond the confines of the case facing the two.

Kiage on Thursday attempted to address the court but the magistrate would not let him. She fixed another mention date for May 29.

Okemo and Gichuru are wanted in the Island of Jersey on allegations of laundering Sh900 million.