Former Governor Evans Kidero and his co-accused have been granted bail but ordered to deposit their passports in court pending the pre-trial conference on 17 May over the KSh68 million graft case.
Anti-corruption magistrate – Douglas Ogoti, had ordered they be detained at Kilimani Police Station pending the bail ruling on Tuesday when he released eight of them on a cash bail of KSh8 million or a cash bail of KSh20m.
Four other suspects in the case were handed a KSh4m cash bail or a KSh10m bond.
Kidero, alongside his former chief of staff – George Wainaina and 12 others, denied corruption charges, among them conspiracy to defraud the Nairobi County Government of Sh68 million during his tenure as city boss.
The prosecution alleges that Kidero conspired with his co-accused to acquire millions of shillings as kickbacks from deceased lawyer – Steven Kariuki as part of the proceeds of crime.
“On January 8, 2014 he unlawfully acquired Sh14.4 million from Steven Kariuki while knowing it was public property. You also engaged in money laundering by acquiring a Toyota Lexus valued at Sh14 million while knowing the money was part of proceeds of crime,” read the charges.
Others in court are former Nairobi Mayor John Ndirangu, Paul Mutunga, Manasseh Karanja, Philomena Nzuki, Ng’ang’a Mungai, Charity Muringo, Peterson Njiru, Ekaya Alumasi, James Mbugua, Elizabeth Wanjiru, Alice Njeri, Hannah Muthoni and John Ngari.
