- Magistrate Douglas Ogoti issued the directive based on issues raised regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Ogoti was forced to find out those vaccinated. Most of the accused said they were fully vaccinated.
An anti-corruption court magistrate has said only accused persons and lawyers in the Sh213 million graft case facing former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero will be allowed in court for hearing on Thursday.
Magistrate Douglas Ogoti issued the directive based on issues raised regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ogoti was forced to find out those vaccinated. Most of the accused said they were fully vaccinated, while others were waiting for their second doses.
Only two out of the 11 accused are yet to get the Covid jab. The media will also be allowed in court.
Ogoti in a brief ruling said the court will adhere strictly to Ministry of Health regulations on curbing the spread of Covid-19 and will endeavour to get a spacious court that can allow mounting of a TV screen.
Open spaces according to MOH regulations can hold up to 38 people. The lawyers from both state and defence in the case are 20.
The case was to proceed for hearing on Wednesday but was adjourned to Thursday to allow one of the accused's new legal representation familiarise himself with the proceedings.
Some 15 witnesses have already testified.
In the case, Kidero, former county secretary Lilian Ndegwa, former chief finance officer Jimmy Mutuku Kiamba, former executive in charge of finance and planning Gregory Mwakanongo, former acting finance chief officer Luke Mugo and former acting head of treasury Maurice Ochieng Okere have denied charges of corruption and economic crime.
These include conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, abuse of office, fraudulent acquisition of public property, dealing with suspect property, and unlawful failure to pay tax to a public entity.
The charges against them state that they conspired to commit fraud which led to the loss of Sh213,327,300 at the Nairobi City county government between January 16, 2014 and January 25, 2016.
-Edited by SKanyara