Ruto Grants Freedom to Former KEMRI Chief After 6-Year Sentence
Former Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) director Davy Koech, who was sentenced to six years in prison for fraudulently accumulating Ksh19.3 million, has been pardoned by President William Ruto.
According to the Gazette Notice, Koech was one of 37 individuals pardoned by the Head of State under the Power of Mercy Act of 2011 on the advice of the Advisory Committee.
The commutation was authorized by Attorney General Justin Muturi.
The former director of KEMRI had previously appealed the September 2021 ruling by magistrate Victor Wakumile, contending that it was flawed.
Koech was found guilty of three counts of fraudulent acquisition of public property by Magistrate Wakumile and was fined Ksh19.6 million or sentenced to six years in prison.
The first allegation stated that on August 17, 2006, Koech unlawfully acquired Ksh800,000 worth of public property from the research institution.
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According to the second and third allegations, he fraudulently obtained Ksh6 million and Ksh12.5 million from KEMRI on December 12, 2006.
He was also accused of transferring Ksh19.3 million from the account of Vector Biological and Control Research (VBCR) using his official position. The magistrate argued that there was ample evidence to prove Koech’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
A year later, the former director of KEMRI filed an appeal and petitioned the High Court to overturn the magistrate’s decision.
However, Justice Esther Maina denied Koech’s appeal, stating that he had failed to demonstrate the court’s error in convicting him.
Presidential Pardon
President Ruto also commuted the death penalty to life imprisonment for all prisoners condemned before November 21, 2022.
He also granted amnesty to 5,861 prisoners serving minor sentences, including those serving less than six months in prison.
The decision to grant these individuals clemency was based on their exemplary behavior during their sentences.
Ruto Grants Freedom to Former KEMRI Chief After 6-Year Sentence
