Prosecution delaying case, say Okemo and Gichuru

Nambale MP Chris Okemo and former Kenya Power boss Samuel Gichuru, who are fighting extradition to Jersey Island, have accused the prosecution of delaying the case by not giving them crucial documents on time.

Lawyer Fred Ngatia on Wednesday complained before Nairobi magistrate Ms Grace Macharia that he had to seek an adjournment because he had not been given the papers in the time stipulated by the court.

“There are very deliberate acts to delay this matter and make it difficult for the two to have a proper response to the prosecutor,” said Mr Ngatia.

He said he was unable to proceed as he had been served with the 500-page bundle one day before Wednesday's hearing. The documents are previously decided cases on similar points of law.

He complained that the prosecutor, Mr Patrick Kiage, had failed to file the documents in the time given by the court.

“I refuse to be taken for granted because I zealously guard court orders. They are not made in jest and are meant to be complied with,” he said.

Mr Kiage denied he was deliberately delaying the case. He said a clerk from the Directorate of Public Prosecution was turned away when he went to Mr Ngatia’s office to hand over the documents on Monday.

Mr Okemo and Mr Gichuru are wanted in Jersey for allegedly laundering Sh900 million. They also face fraud and abuse of office charges.

The hearing resumes on Thursday.