Former Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau Charged Afresh in Sh33 Million Corruption Case

Former Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau has been charged afresh with graft related offences.

Kamau is accused of flouting procurement laws in the award of Sh33 million tender for the construction of Kamukuywa-Kaptuma-Kapsokwony-Sirisia road in Bungoma County.

In the case, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) accuses Kamau of abusing his office and mismanaging taxpayers funds. Kamau was charged alongside former engineers in the ministry of Transport; Mwangi Maingi  and Nicholas Ndung'u. 

Appearing before Magistrate Douglas Ogoti on Friday, Kamau denied the charges and was released on a cash bail of Sh500,000. The court directed Kamau to present himself at the anti-graft body for processing of the bail.

In 2015, Kamau was charged with two counts of abuse office and wilful failure to follow applicable procedures and guidelines relating to management of public funds.

The prosecution said Kamau committed the said offences between 2007 and 2008 when he served as the Ministry of Public Works Permanent Secretary (PS).

His prosecution began in June 2015 after he was fired from his cabinet position by President Kenyatta over links to corruption.

On Tuesday, Kamau failed to take a plea  before the anti-corruption court seeking to have an appeal he has filed at the Supreme Court against further prosecution be determined.

"I plead with the anti-corruption court to stop my criminal proceedings until the Supreme Court hears and determines my appeal," he said through lawyer James Orengo.

“It is our prayer that this plea be deferred to another date pending hearing and determination of the application before the Supreme Court,” submitted lawyer Orengo.