Court Overturns Former MP Amos Kimunya’s Acquittal in Sh60 Million Fraud Case

The High Court has overturned former Kipipiri MP Amos Kimunya’s acquittal in a Sh60 million land fraud case.

Justice Esther Maina on Thursday determined that the prosecution had built a prima facie case against Kimunya and his two co-defendants Lilian Njenga, a former director of Land Adjudication and Settlement at the Ministry, and businessman Junghae Wainaina.

The three were last year acquitted by Anti-Corruption Magistrate Felix Kombo, but the Director of Public Prosecutions filed an appeal arguing that the court erred in law by releasing them.

Kimunya was accused of fraudulently transferring 25 acres of land in Nyandarua County owned by the government to a private company linked to him on January 30th, 2005. He was then the Minister for Lands and Housing.

The parcel had been set aside for the Ministry of Agriculture for seed multiplication and also acted as a farmers’ training centre.

The three were charged with abuse of office, failing to disclose private interests, and disposing of public property fraudulently. Kimunya and Njenga are alleged to have used their positions to award to Midlands Limited 25 acres of public land worth Sh60 million in Njabini.

Justice Maina has ordered the three to present themselves before Chief Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi on October 11th for directions on the defense hearing.