Ex-Treasury CS Henry Rotich speaks after being acquitted of Sh63 billion graft case
After being cleared in a Sh63 billion graft case by the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court, former Treasury Chief Secretary Henry Rotich made a statement.
Rotich announced his victory to the media at Milimani Law Courts, expressing defeat and embarrassment to “those who schemed this evil work.”
Trial Magistrate Eunice Nyutu’s decision to exonerate him and eight other individuals from the corruption case pertaining to the Arror and Kimwarer multi-purpose dams made the man very happy.
According to Nyutu, there was insufficient evidence to support their defense.
“All the accused persons in this case are hereby acquitted under section 210 due to lack of evidence as a result of the reckless dereliction of duty by the prosecution,” the magistrate said.
Following the ruling, Rotich said, “I think the devil has been ashamed and I believe he will remain permanently ashamed and for those who schemed this evil work.”
The former CS promised to give a more detailed reaction, adding “wacha nipumzike kwanza (Let me rest first).”
The case has been pending in court since Rotich was first arraigned on July 23, 2019.
The prosecution called 49 witnesses and closed its case on October 31, 2023.
The other 41 witnesses would come to court and leave without being led in their evidence.
This is as the prosecution would say they had no questions for them.
This was the same scenario in the case of the Investigating officer who is the most crucial witness in any given case.
Rotich and his co-accused were charged with conspiracy to defraud the government of $501,829,769.43 (Sh63 billion) by unlawfully initiating and entering into construction, financing, and insurance agreements for the development of Arror and Kimwarer multipurpose dam projects.
They included former Kerio Valley Development Authority managing director David Kimosop, former chief economist Kennedy Nyakundi, former Nema managing director Geoffrey Wahungu and KVDA official Jackson Kinyanjui.
Others are William Kipkemboi, Paul Kipkoech, Francis Chepkonga and Titus Muriithi.
They allegedly committed the offence between December 17, 2014, and January 31, 2019.
