Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and 16 others have been acquitted in a case involving the misappropriation of Sh357 million belonging to the Nairobi County government.
Milimani Magistrate Eunice Nyutu ruled that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to support the charges against the accused.
“The evidence is inadequate to sustain the charges leveled against the accused persons,” Nyutu said. The court highlighted that the prosecution’s case was weakened by its failure to call all the witnesses initially indicated.
All 17 accused individuals faced multiple charges related to corruption, money laundering, and acquisition of proceeds of crime. The court found that no concrete evidence was presented to prove their involvement in the alleged offenses.
In November 2023, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) encountered a setback in the case when Justice Nixon Sifuna dismissed an application to review a directive concerning the submission of documents by the prosecution.
“I find the impugned directions to have been made in good faith and in the interest of justice and the timely disposal of the case,” the judge said.
Justice Sifuna upheld the trial court’s decision, emphasizing its authority to manage proceedings. He deemed the directive essential for the timely resolution of the high-stakes corruption case involving public figures.
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