Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero is now a free man after the High Court in Nairobi acquitted him of all charges in the Ksh213 million corruption case that had dragged on for years.
Justice Victor Wakumile ruled that the prosecution failed to prove all 17 counts of corruption and economic crimes against Kidero and nine of his co-accused beyond reasonable doubt. The judge noted that there was insufficient evidence to support the claims that the accused made irregular payments to two companies for goods and services that were never delivered.
While Kidero was cleared of all wrongdoing, the court found that the former Nairobi County Head of Accounting still had a case to answer, citing sufficient evidence presented by the prosecution to warrant his response.
Kidero, who served as Nairobi’s first governor between 2013 and 2017, had faced charges ranging from conspiracy to commit corruption, abuse of office, to fraudulent acquisition of public property. He was accused alongside senior county officials, including the County Secretary, Chief Finance Officer, Finance and Planning Executive, acting Chief Finance Officer, and acting Head of Treasury. The group allegedly conspired to defraud the Nairobi County Government of Ksh213,327,300 between January 2014 and January 2016.
During the trial, Kidero’s legal team challenged the authenticity and legality of bank statements produced by the prosecution, arguing that only bank officials could present such documents to maintain the proper chain of evidence.
In 2024, the court authorized the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate the bank records presented in the case. However, Kidero appealed the decision, claiming that the probe violated his constitutional rights and exceeded the EACC’s investigative powers. His appeal was later dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which upheld the commission’s authority and reaffirmed the legality of its investigations.
The ruling marks a significant victory for Kidero, who has faced multiple corruption-related cases since leaving office. His acquittal now removes a major legal burden, though the broader debate over accountability and corruption in devolved governments remains far from settled.
