Former CS Peter Munya Dropped As Witness In Arror And Kimwarer Scandal
Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya was released on Thursday after he testified in the Ksh63 billion Arror and Kimwarer corruption scandal before the Nairobi Anti-Corruption Court.
Trial Magistrate Eunice Nyutu had ordered the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to arrest and present Munya in court by 11:15 a.m. The former governor of Meru complied with the order.
A source familiar with the situation revealed to PoliticalPulseChat that Munya appeared in court, but the prosecution was unprepared.
Following this development, the prosecution requested a postponement to construct their case and cross-examine the former Cabinet Secretary.
The judge, however, denied the defense’s request and ordered the prosecution to withdraw Munya as a witness.
The Magistrate also cautioned the prosecution regarding their conduct, stating that the prosecution’s failure to produce witnesses in court constituted interference with the case.
The judge emphasized that all defendants have the right to a fair trial and that the prosecution must establish its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Although Munya was dismissed as a witness, the court ordered the prosecution to produce all witnesses on September 11, 2023.
Before he appeared in court, the investigating officer, Douglas Chege, informed the court that Munya could not be located. The officer disclosed that law enforcement officials had searched his Nairobi and Meru residences for him.
However, Munya’s attorney refuted the prosecution’s claims that the former CS was concealing.
“I command Munya to appear in court by 11:15 a.m. “His arrest warrant remains in effect,” ordered Magistrate Nyutu.
The leader of the Party of National Unity (PNU) was anticipated to provide testimony against former government officials. This was after he claimed in 2019 that he was pressured by a senior Cabinet official to sanction the release of Ksh4 billion for the two dams.
He also claimed that a former PS pressured him to sign the documents, which he refused to do when he realized that government officials had a vested interest in the project.
Former CS Peter Munya Dropped As Witness In Arror And Kimwarer Scandal