CS Michael Kamau to take plea in graft case Thursday
Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau. An anti-corruption court in Nairobi on June 3, 2015 directed him to take plea in a corruption he is facing on June 4, 2015. FILE PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI |
What you need to know:
- Lady Justice Mumbi Ngugi on Wednesday directed that Mr Kamau should take plea as planned but stopped the hearing of the case
- The judge stopped Mr Kamau's trial until Tuesday next week when she will deliver a ruling on his application.
- The judge also directed Mr Kamau to request the court to release him on bail upon taking plea.
Suspended Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau will take plea before an anti-corruption court on Thursday.
Lady Justice Mumbi Ngugi on Wednesday directed that Mr Kamau should take plea as planned but stopped the hearing of the case until she rules on the Cabinet secretary's application seeking to stop his prosecution.
The judge stopped Mr Kamau's trial until Tuesday next week when she will deliver the ruling.
The judge also directed Mr Kamau to request the court to release him on bail upon taking plea.
PLEADED WITH HER
Judge Ngugi gave her directive after an interparty hearing on Wednesday, in which the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Attorney-General and the Inspector-General of Police pleaded with her not to stop Mr Kamau's arrest and prosecution.
“Consequently, I direct that he presents himself to the court to take plea and make an appropriate bail application. Thereafter, the proceedings shall be stayed until Tuesday June 9 when the court shall deliver its ruling in this matter,” she ruled.
Mr Kamau had moved to the High Court on Tuesday, hours after Senior Principal Magistrate Lawrence Mogambi summoned him to face charges.
Judge Ngugi declined to stop Mr Kamau's prosecution despite his claims that the EACC lacked a quorum to recommend his prosecution.
SKIPPED SESSION
Mr Kamau, who was to be charged on Tuesday morning alongside five other members of the ministry's tender committee, skipped the session.
The six are accused of failing to follow procurement rules in awarding the tender for the construction of Kamukuywa-Kaptama- Kapsokwony-Sirisia road.
Mr Kamau will be charged with abuse of office over claims of irregularly awarding a Sh33 million tender to redesign the road.
Also summoned to face charges are former resident engineer in the ministry Nicholas Ndung’u Ng’ang’a, and a Mr Kata Matemu Kithyo.
Three other three suspects denied charges on Tuesday and were released on a Sh600,000 cash bail each.
