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Former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich has been charged afresh over the multi-billion shillings Arror and Kimwarer dams graft scandal.
Rotich with four others were charged with conspiracy to defraud, wilful failure to comply with procurement laws, engaging in a project without prior planning, abuse of office and committing an offence of financial misconduct.
The fresh charges comes after the prosecution amended the charge sheet and removed the names of former Principal Secretaries Kamau Thugge and Susan Koech who had been charged alongside Rotich.
“Evidence in the case remains the same and no new documents or witnesses shall be adduced during the case,” stated the prosecution.
Thugge and Koech will now be a key prosecution witness in the case to testify against his Rotich.
The DPP also removed the names of 20 Italians who will also be charged afresh separately as they are still at large.
Rotich was yesterday arraigned alongside David Kipchumba Kimosop, Kennedy Nyakundi Nyachiro, Jackson Njau Kinyanjui and Titus Muriithi who are the Managing Director Kerio Valley Development Authority, Chief Economist and Head of Europe II Division and Director Resource Mobilisation Department of National Treasury respectively.
Appearing before the Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti, they pleaded not guilty.
According to the charge sheet, Rotich and his co-accused jointly conspired to defraud the Government of Kenya off Ksh.54 billion (USD 501,829,769.43) by entering into the construction and development of Arror multi-purpose dam and Kimwarer multi-purpose dam , a project they knew was not approved.
Ogoti noted that the trial court would not entertain any adjournment by parties during the hearing.
The case will be heard in September 2021.
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