NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 16 – Hundreds of Nairobi Governor Evans
Kidero’s supporters accompanied him on Thursday to the Integrity Centre
where he was grilled for more than six hours over corruption allegations
he’s facing.
The supporters were chanting praise songs about Governor Kidero while declaring he was innocent and that the allegations made against him were meant to derail him from his development agenda.
“Our Governor is clean and learned…let those opposing him come out,” they chanted.
Another one, this time from a public addressing system would be heard saying, “Nairobi is in standstill because the Governor is here…please let him out so that we can resume to our normal lives.”
Kidero walked from City Hall to Integrity Centre and back.
“I was received and treated very well and the discussions were amicable. I have assured them (EACC detectives) of my personal cooperation in fighting corruption and that of the Nairobi County officials,” Kidero told journalist amid cheers from his supporters.
“They even gave me lunch,” he added amid laughter.
Kidero however declined to take questions from reporters who had camped at the EACC offices since 9am saying, “the day was very long.”
In the confidential report presented to Parliament by President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kidero has been accused of facilitating procurement irregularity by signing an MoU with an international transport company in a deal worth Sh4.6 billion.
He has however denied the allegations saying it only remains an MOU with no contractual and financial obligations.
Other allegations levelled against Kidero point to the time when he was the Chief Executive Officer of Mumias Sugar Company where he allegedly approved and facilitated paying of Sh300 million to lawyer representing the company on various issues.
“They even laughed about it…such amount is quite substantial and if it is moved, it will definitely leave some hole which they would have noticed,” he said.
He was also questioned about the Sh8bn Karen land and the State House Crescent land among other issues.
On the State House Crescent land, suspended Cabinet Secretary for lands Charity Ngilu had earlier informed EACC that it belongs to the government though there are people who own fake title deeds who are still claiming it.
“That piece of land in 1965 was given by the government to Nairobi City Council with the express condition that it will be used as a children playing ground,” she said.
She said President Uhuru Kenyatta had directed for its repossession from the County Government for the Foreign Affairs Ministry headquarters to be constructed there.
Kidero becomes the first Governor among the 12 County bosses mentioned in the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission list of shame to be grilled by EACC investigators.
Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto is also under investigation for allegedly accumulating immense wealth by purchasing earth movers worth Sh400 million and a helicopter worth Sh300 million, besides purchasing a house worth Sh33 million shillings in Ngong.
In Machakos, Governor Alfred Mutua is accused of purchasing 14 Subaru model vehicles for county Executive members through single sourcing which was overpriced.
Allegations against Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok include the irregular payment of Sh14 million to a contractor for the construction of a bridge where no work was done. He has since sued EACC for being wrongly accused.
Meru Governor Peter Munya is also alleged to have abused and misused public funds on fuel, service and repair of a private vehicle.
The supporters were chanting praise songs about Governor Kidero while declaring he was innocent and that the allegations made against him were meant to derail him from his development agenda.
“Our Governor is clean and learned…let those opposing him come out,” they chanted.
Another one, this time from a public addressing system would be heard saying, “Nairobi is in standstill because the Governor is here…please let him out so that we can resume to our normal lives.”
Kidero walked from City Hall to Integrity Centre and back.
“I was received and treated very well and the discussions were amicable. I have assured them (EACC detectives) of my personal cooperation in fighting corruption and that of the Nairobi County officials,” Kidero told journalist amid cheers from his supporters.
“They even gave me lunch,” he added amid laughter.
Kidero however declined to take questions from reporters who had camped at the EACC offices since 9am saying, “the day was very long.”
In the confidential report presented to Parliament by President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kidero has been accused of facilitating procurement irregularity by signing an MoU with an international transport company in a deal worth Sh4.6 billion.
He has however denied the allegations saying it only remains an MOU with no contractual and financial obligations.
Other allegations levelled against Kidero point to the time when he was the Chief Executive Officer of Mumias Sugar Company where he allegedly approved and facilitated paying of Sh300 million to lawyer representing the company on various issues.
“They even laughed about it…such amount is quite substantial and if it is moved, it will definitely leave some hole which they would have noticed,” he said.
He was also questioned about the Sh8bn Karen land and the State House Crescent land among other issues.
On the State House Crescent land, suspended Cabinet Secretary for lands Charity Ngilu had earlier informed EACC that it belongs to the government though there are people who own fake title deeds who are still claiming it.
“That piece of land in 1965 was given by the government to Nairobi City Council with the express condition that it will be used as a children playing ground,” she said.
She said President Uhuru Kenyatta had directed for its repossession from the County Government for the Foreign Affairs Ministry headquarters to be constructed there.
Kidero becomes the first Governor among the 12 County bosses mentioned in the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission list of shame to be grilled by EACC investigators.
Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto is also under investigation for allegedly accumulating immense wealth by purchasing earth movers worth Sh400 million and a helicopter worth Sh300 million, besides purchasing a house worth Sh33 million shillings in Ngong.
In Machakos, Governor Alfred Mutua is accused of purchasing 14 Subaru model vehicles for county Executive members through single sourcing which was overpriced.
Allegations against Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok include the irregular payment of Sh14 million to a contractor for the construction of a bridge where no work was done. He has since sued EACC for being wrongly accused.
Meru Governor Peter Munya is also alleged to have abused and misused public funds on fuel, service and repair of a private vehicle.
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