Governor Lenolkulal finally released

Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkural in the dock at a Milimani law court. [Standard]

Embattled Samburu County Governor Moses Lenolkulal has finally been released after paying Sh10 million cash bail.

The county boss was arrested on Tuesday and arraigned at Anti-Corruption Court where Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti where he was given an option of paying Sh100 million cash bail or Sh150 million bond and surety of the same amount.

Unable to raise the amount, he appealed the ruling at the High Court where judge Mumbi Ngugi slashed the Sh100 million cash bail to Sh10 million and also reduced the bond amount from Sh150 million to Sh30 million. Ngugi ruled that the bail amount awarded by Chief Magistrate Justice Ogoti was excessive and tantamount to denying the accused bail.

“It has not been demonstrated that Governor Lenolkulal is a flight risk, and I note that the Prosecution did not oppose his application for bail,” read part of the ruling by justice Mumbi.

Lenolkulal is facing the accusation of irregularly awarding his fuel company, Oryx Service Station, a tender that saw him defraud Samburu county Sh84.7 million, between March 27, 2013, and March 25, 2019, without supplying any service.

Despite being released Governor Lenolkulal will not be allowed to access his office since the court agreed with the prosecution that it was a crime scene.