Warrant of arrest out for former PS in cemetery land case

A warrant of arrest has been issued against a former permanent secretary charged with defrauding Nairobi City Hall of Sh283 million through the inflated purchase of cemetery land in Mavoko township.

Mr Sammy Kirui, who was suspended from the then Ministry of Local Government at the height of investigations into the scandal, skipped an appearance on Tuesday at an anti-corruption court, prompting the presiding magistrate to issue the warrant.

He is charged alongside 10 former senior city council officials and lawyers.

Senior principal magistrate Peter Ndwiga gave police a month to trace and arrest the former PS and report progress on September 29.

Mr Kurui now risks his bond of Sh3 million being cancelled and the case conducted through to determination while he is in custody.

EXECUTE WARRANT

The magistrate said that “due to the nature of the case, proceedings cannot be conducted in the absence of the first accused ” and directed the officer in charge of Kilimani Police Station to execute the warrant.

A prosecutor said she had three witnesses in court for Tuesday’s proceedings and asked for a fresh hearing date.

Another suspect in the case, lawyer Alphonce Mutinda, who was also absent, escaped the warrant after a colleague told the court he was aware of the trial but was held up in a separate case before Justice David Majanja.

Mr Kirui's case revolves around an audit that showed City Hall bought 120 acres of land worth Sh24 million for Sh283,200,000.

Among the suspects in the case are former legal affairs director Mary Ngethe and former director of procurement Alexander Musee, who are said to have been members the tender committee that sanctioned the payment.

They face various counts of abuse of office relating to their alleged roles in authorising the payment of Sh283,200,000 to Naen Rech Ltd for the irregular purchase of the cemetery land.