Economy

Out-of-court deal for Kimunya land fraud case case

KIM

Former Cabinet minister Amos Kimunya outside the Milimani Court on July 26, 2016. PHOTO | PAUL WAWERU

Former Cabinet minister Amos Kimunya got a temporary reprieve after court proceedings were Tuesday adjourned to allow for a negotiated settlement in a case he is accused of land fraud.

The court was told that residents of Nyandarua had filed a petition at the County Assembly seeking to “withdraw the complaint on the parcel of land” that the criminal case against Mr Kimunya stems from.

Mr Kimunya, former MP for Kipipiri, Nyandarua, is charged with allocating public land to Midlands Limited, a company associated with him. He is said to have effected the transfer on June 30, 2005 when he served as a Land minister.

He failed to disclose his vested interest in the land transaction, court documents state. He has pleaded innocent against the charge.

The anti-corruption court heard that negotiations were under way, that the government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, should withdraw its complaint on the parcel of land, on which a processing factory sits in recognition of the immense value that is carried out therein.”

“Nyandarua County government duly recognises the importance of Midlands as an industry with tremendous importance to the county for agricultural development and economic growth,” lawyer Tom Macharia said.

He asked and was given two months to report back to court the outcome of the negotiation.

However, in spite of the new twist, the Director of Public Prosecutions retains the final say on the case given his powers to allow withdrawal of criminal charges.

Mr Kimunya is charged alongside Ms Lilian Wangiri, a former director of land adjudication and settlement with the Land ministry, who also faces breach of trust charge.

A third suspect Junghae Wainaina denies a charge of fraudulent acquisition of public property.

The suspects are out on bond and their case will be mentioned on September 29 for further directions.