DPP Haji Under Fire over Withdrawal of Graft Cases Against President Ruto's Allies

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) wants the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji to explain the recent withdrawal of a number of graft cases against President Ruto’s allies.

LSK President Eric Theuri on Thursday gave the DPP three days to disclose reasons for the withdrawal of the cases, failure to which the society will take steps to hold him accountable.

“We will take appropriate action if he fails to respond. There are several options in law to hold him accountable,” Theuri said at a media briefing.

Theuri argues that the DPP owes the country an explanation as to why the cases were discontinued, saying that some of the suspects were arrested dramatically, with press announcements supporting the arrests.

“If the cases are being withdrawn for lack of evidence to sustain the charges, the DPP must take responsibility and explain how the reason to charge was arrived at in the first place,” he added.

On Wednesday, the DPP withdrew the Sh19 million graft case against former Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa, who has been nominated to President Ruto’s Cabinet as the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Gender.

He similarly applied to withdraw the charges facing former Kenya Power Managing Director Ben Chumo and his co-accused in relation to the procurement of transformers worth over Sh400 million.

Haji has also requested that the Sh80 million graft case against former Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal be dropped, but Magistrate Thomas Nzioki demanded an explanation from the prosecution for abandoning the charges.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) on Wednesday also expressed concerns over what it termed as “coordinated withdrawals of high-value graft cases” by the office of the DPP.

“Although the government has touted its commitment to tackling corruption, we are baffled by the spate of coordinated withdrawals of high-value graft cases by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions,” KHRC wrote on social media.