Ruto likely to be in the dock Tuesday

FILE | NATION. Suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto during a news conference October 21, 2010, after he handed over his docket to EAC minister Hellen Sambili.

By JILLO KADIDA, jkadida@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Monday, October 25 2010 at 22:03

Suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto is likely to make his first court appearance over the Sh272 million fraud case Tuesday morning.

Mr Ruto and his co-accused are expected to attend the court once the case comes up for a mention.

This is because when a case comes up for mention, the suspects are supposed to show up in court so long as there is no order dispensing with their attendance.

Mr Ruto and four others were charged before a magistrate’s court in 2004 with defrauding the Kenya Pipeline Company of more than Sh272 million in the sale of a plot illegally hived off Ngong Forest.

The Eldoret North MP is charged with receiving Sh9.9 million, saying he was in a position to sell the land, belonging to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

He is alleged to have been paid another Sh57.8 million and Sh28 million for land in the same forest.

However, Mr Ruto and his co-accused filed a constitutional reference after they were charged before the Chief Magistrate’s court in Nairobi. Chief Justice Evan Gicheru appointed a bench to hear the case.

The constitutional application was recently concluded and Mr Ruto ordered to face the criminal trial.

Following the dismissal, he was also suspended from the Cabinet.