Big win for ex-Nairobi governor Kidero as court drops Ksh213M graft charges
A Nairobi court has acquitted former Nairobi County Governor Evans Kidero and six county officials of Ksh213 million graft charges.
Milimani Magistrate Victor Wakumile on Thursday, November 6, 2025, cleared Kidero and his co-accused after finding that the prosecution failed to prove 17 corruption charges against them.
You might also like
“Count 1–17: All acquitted under Section 210 of the Criminal Procedure Code,” Magistrate Wakumile ruled.
At the same time, the magistrate placed former Nairobi head of Treasury Stephen Osiro, and John Githua and Grace Njeri — directors of Lodwar Wholesalers Limited and Ngurumani Traders Limited — on their defence after finding that the State had proved graft charges against them.
“I find that counts 18 to 31 and 32 to 35 — accused persons placed on their defence,” said Magistrate Wakumile.
Kidero had been charged with conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption contrary to Section 47A(3), as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act No. 3 of 2013.
The former county boss was also accused of conspiring to commit an offence of corruption — namely, fraud leading to the loss of public funds amounting to Ksh213,327,300 for services not rendered.
“On diverse dates between January 16, 2014, and January 25, 2016, within Nairobi City County in the Republic of Kenya, jointly conspired to commit an offence of corruption, namely fraud leading to loss of public funds in the sum of Ksh213,327,300 for services not rendered,” part of the charges read.
Kidero was further charged with dealing directly with suspect property contrary to Section 47(1), as read with Sections 47(2)(a) and 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act No. 3 of 2003.
“On or about August 29, 2014, within Nairobi City County, being the governor of Nairobi City County Government and a person whose functions concerned the management and use of revenue, received a benefit of Ksh14,000,000 from Lodwar Wholesalers Limited, having reason to believe that the said money was acquired in the course of corrupt conduct,” part of the charges read.
According to the charge sheet, Kidero is said to have received a further benefit of Ksh10,000,000 from Lodwar Wholesalers Limited, having reason to believe that the money was acquired in the course of corrupt conduct.
