Counties

Nakuru court sets free land official accused of corruption

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Nakuru County Governor Kinuthia Mbugua. FILE PHOTO | NMG

A court has acquitted a senior county land official who had been accused of corruption.
Chief magistrate Josephat Kalo acquitted land board secretary Franc ole Kimbelekenya due to inadequate evidence by the prosecution.

He had been accused of soliciting Sh1.65 million bribe from Konene ole Nkuruna in order to register eight people as beneficiaries of a piece of land in Oljorai, Nakuru.

In his judgment, the magistrate said the prosecution witnesses presented a contradicting evidence regarding the arrest of the suspect.

“The evidence provided is contradicting, there are also no links showing the accused involvement in the matter have been established and therefore the court acquits him of all charges and orders that he be refunded the cash,” ruled the magistrate.

The further discredited the transcript by the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) officers.

“The translator was assisted by the complainant, considering he is not conversant with the Maasai dialect and was also not involved in the arrest of the accused,” said Mr Kalo.

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Governor Kinuthia Mbugua appointed Mr Kimbelekenya appointed as secretary of the land board in 2015.

The board is mandated with solving disputes in Chepakundi, Oljorai and Ruyobei.

Last November, senior principal magistrate Liz Gichiha disqualified herself from the case after Mr Nkuruna petitioned the Supreme Court seeking to have her withdraw from the case.

In a letter dated October 24, 2016 to the Supreme Court Mr Nkuruna said he had lost confidence in the manner in which the case was being handled by the court.