Kenya: Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission officials arrest Amos Kimunya over alleged public land scam

Former Cabinet Minister Amos Kimunya leaves Integrity Centre after grilling by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission officials on corruption charges.

..................

Former Cabinet Minister Amos Kimunya was on Friday evening arrested by anti-graft detectives over alleged irregular allocation of public land in Nyandarua County. 

His arrest came hours after Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko had authorised charges against him over alleged abuse of office and fraudulent disposal and acquisition of public property. 

The directive followed an investigation and recommendation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. The detectives picked him up from a city hotel and took him to Integrity Centre to record a statement in preparation for prosecution. 

EACC spokesman Yassin Amaro said Mr Kimunya would take plea on Monday. “He is in our offices being prepared for plea. The issue of if he will be granted bond or not will be known later,” said Mr Amaro. 

Other officials said the former Cabinet minister was likely to be freed if he raised the required cash bail or reached an agreement with the investigating officers. 

“It is upon the officers handling the case to grant him bond or not but there is a likelihood he will be bonded until Monday when he takes his plea,” said an officer aware of the probe.

Kimunya served in the Kibaki government as minister for finance, lands and transport. The charges are in connection with a 25-acre piece of public land in Njambini, Nyandarua County, which was part of 75 acres belonging to the Ministry of Agriculture reserved for a potatoe seed multiplication project. 

Sufficient evidence Kimunya is alleged to have caused the land to be allocated to M/s Midlands Limited when he was the Minister for Lands without consent from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/thecounties/article/2000106903/eacc-officials-arrest-kimunya-over-alleged-public-land-scam