Kenyan minister in court over abuse of office

Written By:Dzuya Walter/Michael Gichuki,    Posted: Wed, Mar 02, 2011

Former industrialization minister Henry Kosgey

The abuse of office case against suspended industrialization minister Henry Kosgey kicked off Wenesday amid allegations that he ignored guidance from the National Standard Council.

In his testimony, the chairman of the National Standards Council Joseph Thiongo told the court how Kosgey had gone ahead to allow the importation of vehicles aged over 8 years contrary to the laws of the council.

Kosgey's move saw the importation of over age vehicles into the country through his ministry.

Thiongo also alleged that he had written a letter to the minister informing him of the imports as required by the standard council's law which calls for the minister to confide with its members, advice that the minister ignored.

Kosgey is faced with 11 counts of abuse of office for allowing the importation of the vehicles older than eight years since the day of manufacture contrary to legislation.

The Tienderet MP was suspended from his ministerial duties following the allegations.

Meanwhile, Attorney general Amos Wako wants a case that sought to interpret the constitutionality of four judicial nominees withdrawn.

Through lawyer Wanjiku Mbiyu, Wako told a three judge bench appointed by former chief justice Evan Gicheru not to continue hearing the matter on grounds that it has been overtaken by events.

They argue that since the president withdrew the nominations, the petitioners should withdraw the case.

The Law Society of Kenya argues that the bench cannot hear the matter since the judiciary lacks a chief justice.

The matter will be mentioned on March 10.

The matter arose following the nomination of the chief justice, the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Controller of Budget by President Mwai Kibaki ostensibly in consultation with the Prime Minister.

However, the Prime Minister denied he had been consulted, generating heated debate within the government cycles.

The President later withdrew the nominations. Chief Justice Evan Gicheru whose term came to an end on February 27 has already stepped down.

And at the Anti-corruption court the wife of former local government minister Musikari Kombo, Elizabeth Kaloki Kombo was charged with three counts of fraud.

Kombo was alleged to have fraudulently acquired public property and issuing a false document to a school principal.

It was alleged that she irregularly obtained over 8 million shillings on diverse dates between April 12 and May 2009 being a senior director of Education in Coast Province.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on a cash bail of 100,000 shillings and a surety of a similar amount.