NOT GUILTY

Suspended Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Local Government Sammy Kirui, former Nairobi town clerk John Gakuo and eight others arrested in connection with the 283 million shillings Mavoko cemetery land scandal have all pleaded not guilty.

The 10 were arrested by the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission on Wednesday and spent the night in police custody.

They appeared before the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission court Thursday to face several counts of corruption and abuse of office.

Kirui was among four permanent secretaries interdicted by the president pending investigations over allegations of corruption.

Each of the ten suspended officials have been released on a 5 million shillings cash bail.

Others who were suspended at the time included Senior Deputy Secretary Reuben Rotich, Director of Procurement Boniface Misero and Chief Financial Officer Herman Chevera.

At City Hall which was the centre of the fraud officers interdicted included Deputy Town Clerk Geoffrey Katsolleh, Director of Legal Affairs Mary Ng'ethe and the Director of Procurement Kanyi Nyambura.

Others were Deputy Director of Legal Affairs Karisa Iha, Deputy Director Procurement Alexander Musee, Medical Officer of Health Daniel Nguku and Chief Internal Auditor I N. Ngacha.

The President also directed that the monies overpaid, amounting to Ksh. 259 million, be recovered from the beneficiaries.

President Kibaki said the officers and other collaborators including lawyers and agents, should be prosecuted for the serious fraud which he said was committed against the Kenyan public.

The scandal came to the limelight after it emerged that the Nairobi City Council had grossly overpaid for the land which was meant to be used for a cemetery.

It also transpired that the land was unsuitable for the intended use.

Local government minister Musalia Mudavadi under whose docket the Nairobi City Council lies was also put on the spot though he vehemently defended himself claiming the move was political.

Meanwhile three police officers were Wednesday morning arrested at Athi River for allegedly receiving bribes.

KACC said its officers pounced on the officers attached to the Axel Load Enforcement Unit of the Highway Traffic at Athi River area as they received bribes from drivers of sand ferrying trucks as they sought to avoid being weighed at the Mlolongo Weighbridge.

By the time of their arrest, the team which comprises of a senior sergeant, a corporal and a police constable who is the driver had collected Ksh 86,650.

"The Commission established that the suspects are usually paid Ksh 1,000 per truck per trip to avoid being weighed and paying the charges for over loading which range from Ksh 100,000 to 400,000," KACC said.