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Ongeri's Wife is Held Over Graft
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 22 July 2007 23:32
Mrs Elizabeth Ongeri was held with five other people, including former Nairobi Town Clerk Zipporah Wandera, over their alleged part in a Sh141 million scandal at City Hall.
The six had just been discharged by a Nairobi principal magistrate after the case brought by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority was withdrawn.
It was taken over by the Attorney General, however, and about 20 policemen immediately rearrested them and they were charged with similar offences.
Two weeks ago, police rearrested Cabinet Minister Kipng'eno Arap Ng'eny in similar circumstances and charged him afresh only hours after a case brought by KACA was withdrawn.
Lawyer John Khaminwa attempted in vain yesterday to block the magistrate's orders allowing the Attorney-General to take over the case.
However, principal magistrate Mrs Rosemary Mutoka ruled that the AG had every right to take over the case. The charges brought by KACA were valid and the AG could proceed with the case.
Mrs Mutoka said the Constitutional Court which had outlawed KACA last year recognised that only the AG could take over its cases.
Mrs Ongeri, Mrs Wandera, Kisii Kanu branch chairman Geoffrey Asanyo, former city council manager Lawrence Musyoka, former city treasurer Peter Gathimba and businessman Philip Munyao had appeared for a ruling of the KACA case.
They were arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Mr Boaz Olao at 2.30 pm but they did not plead to the charges because one of the defence lawyers raised an objection.
Mr Pravin Bowry, appearing for Mr Asanyo, said he would raise preliminary objections to try to stop the trial. He said he needed time to prepare the application.
Mr Olao ordered that it should be made on Monday. The police, commanded by Senior Superintendent Margaret Ngera, had arrested the six and led them immediately to the Chief Magistrate's court where Mr Olao was hearing another case.
Their entry disrupted the hearing and they were ordered to leave.
The six were then taken to the basement cells where they were held for three hours, until 3pm.
