Trials for Suspects in NYS Scandal Pushed to 2019

Trials for suspects in the multi-million shilling National Youth Service (NYS) scam have been pushed to early next year.

An inter-party hearing before Principal Magistrate Peter Ooko on Wednesday resolved the trials be held from January 7th to 31st, 2019.

Among high profile individuals charged over the scandal is former Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Lillian Omollo and former NYS Director-General Richard Ndubai. Others are four members of the Ngirita family and over 40 other suspects.

President Uhuru Kenyatta fired Lillian Omollo in a mini Cabinet reshuffle last month and replaced her with Francis Otieno, who took oath of office on Tuesday.

The suspects were freed on bail in June after pleading not guilty to graft-related charges. Those who were unable to raise the cash are still in custody.

The pushing of the trials to next year contradicts Chief Justice David Maraga's promise that graft cases will be heard expeditiously.

“The assurance I can give to this country is that the Judiciary is ready and we are going to deal with those cases as they come. I have given instructions that these cases must be given priority,” Maraga said recently.