Jimmy Kiamba Acquitted of Corruption Charges

Former Nairobi County Chief Finance Officer Jimmy Kiamba, County Secretary Lilian Wanjiru Ndegwa, and two other senior county officials have been acquitted of corruption charges after a Nairobi court found the prosecution’s case wanting.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Milimani Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Kennedy Bidali ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

Prosecution Case Found Weak

Magistrate Bidali said the evidence presented by the State was insufficient to sustain convictions against the accused persons.

“The prosecution failed to establish culpability on the part of the accused persons and did not charge those who issued instructions for the impugned transactions,” the magistrate ruled.

Those acquitted alongside Kiamba are County Secretary Lilian Wanjiru Ndegwa, Regina Chepkemoi, and Stephen Ogaga.

Charges They Faced

The four had been facing seven counts, including:

• Abuse of office

• Making false documents

• Uttering false documents

The charges stemmed from allegations that the former officials were involved in irregular financial transactions and procurement dealings that allegedly led to the loss of millions of shillings at Nairobi City Hall.

Court Faults Investigations

In his ruling, Magistrate Bidali faulted the prosecution for failing to demonstrate how the accused persons personally benefitted from the alleged transactions or acted outside the scope of their lawful duties.

He further noted that investigators failed to pursue or charge senior officials who allegedly authorized or directed the questioned payments.

End of the Case

The acquittal brings to an end a long-running corruption case that had cast a shadow over the careers of the former county officials, all of whom had denied the charges throughout the trial.