This archive report was first published on 23 July 2019.
On July 23, 2019, Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti granted bond and bail terms to suspects alleged to have been involved in a multi-billion shillings Kerio Dams scandal.
The suspects, including Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich and Principal Secretary Kamau Thugge, were granted a bond of Ksh50 million or Ksh15 million cash bail.
The accused have also been told to refrain from appearing at their places of work since the court deemed Treasury a ‘crime scene’.
They were also ordered not to interact with any of the witnesses in the case or destroy any evidence.
According to the court, proof of them breaching the terms of release would result in them being detained for the remainder of the case.
Lawyer Kioko Kilukumi argued on behalf of the defence that there should be no reason not to grant the accused persons bail.
“The only primary and important consideration for the court before it admits anyone to bail is whether or not they’ll turn up in court,” Kilukumi said.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) agreed with the defence’s request, but only if the accused persons deposited their passports and travel documents.
“Our case isn’t that the accused are not innocent. Our case is that the accused persons have not been working for the public good,” said Special Prosecutor Taib Ali.
