Rich ex-City Hall CFO on Sh85,000 pay freed of graft

Jimmy Kiamba, the former chief finance officer at City Hall who owns multi-million shilling property in Nairobi and Machakos despite a modest monthly salary of Sh85,000, was Thursday acquitted of corruption charges.

Chief Magistrate Kennedy Bidali on Thursday termed the prosecution of Mr Kiamba and three other former Nairobi county officials as selective and that the graft charges against them had not been proved.

The four, including former county secretary Lilian Ndegwa, Regina Rotich a former secretary at Mr Kiamba’s office and former head of treasury Stephen Osiro, had been charged with defrauding City Hall of millions of shillings in shady procurement deals.

The former officials had denied a total of 10 counts in relation to a Sh17.9 million fraud case. They were accused of, among other charges, forging documents, uttering of false documents, abuse of office and paying for services not rendered.

“Having analysed the modus operandi at the county government and the evidence tendered, it is my finding that the goods were supplied and services rendered. It follows that the charges of abuse of office and the alternative charge must fail,” he said.

Mr Kiamba was thrust into national spotlight after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) sought to freeze his assets to pave the way for further investigations into his vast estate.

READ: City Hall official who lives like a king on Sh85,000 pay

His estate included two maisonettes in Nairobi’s South C, a plush town house in Kileleshwa, four apartments in Kilimani and eight plots of land in Muthaiga, Mavoko and Machakos. He also owns a fleet of six cars.

The EACC believes Mr Kiamba acquired the property through fraudulent deals using his position as City Hall CFO. EACC said Mr Kiamba’s two bank accounts with CFC Stanbic Bank were used to transact more than Sh400 million between January and November 2014.