Former Nairobi governor Evans Kidero has been released at a cash bail of Sh2 million.
Kidero and his co-accused Maurice Okere
have
also been given a bond of Sh3 million with a surety of the same amount.
The two will be held at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) police cell until Friday 12am
if they do not raise the cash bail.
Kidero was arrested on Wednesday evening and taken to the Anti-Corruption Court.
He and seven others are
accused of facilitating the loss of Sh213,327,300 between January 16,
2014,
and January 25, 2016.
During arguments for the release of Kidero and Okewe on bail, lawyer Tom Ojienda asked Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti
not to be "too strict" as they are "law-abiding citizens".
"There is no reason why they would not avail themselves for trial. None of the accused persons has [cases of] past criminal conduct and they cannot interfere with witnesses," he said.
Ojienda further said the accused no longer work for the county so they do not have access to documents and employees.
He also claimed that the delay in charging Kidero was deliberate to deny him from securing bond.
"Kidero was on his way to the EACC when he was arrested. He spent more than 23 hours at the commission. He slept there and was cooperative with investigators," he said.
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The judge
ordered the rest who were not in court today to present themselves to the EACC by Friday at 10.00 am.
They are former officers Lilian Ndegwa (county secretary), Jimmy Kiamba (Finance chief officer), Stephen Osiro (head of county Treasury), Luke Gatimu (acting Finance chief officer) and Gregory Mwakanongo (Finance executive).